Top quality New Zealand performer Grail Seeker will be heading in a new direction on Saturday when she attempts to add to her record at the highest level.
The daughter of Iffraaj will spearhead a four-strong Wexford Stables assault on the Group 1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie in her pursuit of a third top-flight title.
Grail Seeker was an emphatic first-up winner of the event last season, then named the Tarzino Trophy and raced at Hastings, before also claiming the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham later in the season.
“She’s proven at weight-for-age, she’s proven at the distance and she’s coming in on a similar path to last year having trialled well,” said Andrew Scott, who trains Grail Seeker in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan.
“The only thing that is different is the right hand turn versus the left, and she hasn’t had opportunities going right-handed to show her best yet.
“We don’t think she’s disadvantaged by it, but she hasn’t raced at the same level going right to left.
“Apart from that, her body weight is the same as last year, she’s been eating well and thriving, and we expect a similar performance.”
Grail Seeker's stablemates Waitak, Tomodachi and Checkmate will also contest the Proisir Plate.