Ole Kirk filly destined for stakes races after maiden win

Ole Kirk filly Demerzel could be set for the Princess Series as a three-year-old after breaking her maiden at Canterbury on Wednesday and living up to the high opinion held of her by co-trainer Adrian Bott.

A half-sister to Listed-winning Dundeel two-year-old Epimeles, the Evergreen Stud Farm-bred Demerzel was sent straight to the lead by jockey Tim Clark who was able to maintain the filly’s momentum over the 1250m distance to score by 1.8 lengths.

Bott and Clark both suggested that Demerzel, who ran fourth at her first start at Warwick Farm over 1100m on June 3, would appreciate more distance, opening up the possibility of targeting the Sydney spring fillies races culminating in the Group 1 Flight Stakes in the spring.

Her dam Apicius has a weanling brother to Demerzel and she was not served last season. Vinery Stud’s champion first season sire Ole Kirk’s first crop three-year-old Ole Dancer won last year’s Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.

Meanwhile, Tiger Of Malay sired his fifth first crop winner when Apex Predator produced a tenacious performance to win a 1200m two-year-old fillies maiden at Doomben.

Apex Predator was a $35,000 buy for Proven Thoroughbreds and trainer Matt Hoysted at last year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from the Glenlogan Park draft.

Tiger Of Malay stands at Newgate Farm.