Dar Lunn has set his eyes on next week's Silver Goblet after watching Praline score a strong first win at Dubbo Turf Club on Monday.
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Praline led from start to finish in the opening event of Monday's meeting, the Nutrien Harcourts Maiden Plate (1100m) and the two-year-old feature on June 12 now beckons for the filly.
"There's a two-year-old race here in 11 days' time. It's 1100m so with that run under her belt she should nearly be cherry ripe," Lunn told Sky Thoroughbred Central after Monday's win.
Lunn has every right to feel positive about his chances in the annual Silver Goblet, as Praline has now put together two promising runs to start her career.
After the one trial in April she shocked punters when running second on debut at Wellington on May 10 as a $61 chance.
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But Lunn had always liked what he'd seen in the filly and knew she was in better shape heading into start number two.
"She trialed nice at Narromine when she trialed behind open company and we sent her to Wellington and we drew bad," he said.
"Drew 13 but she ran a really nice race. Shes come home since and done everything right so I expected her to go good today."
She looked much more assured in Monday's win, as well.
Apprentice jockey Kath Bell-Pitomac urged Praline ($7) on early from gate two and she pushed to the lead along the rails.
The Darren Hyde-trained Chilli Pop ($31) also pushed forward while the well-favoured Aneesa ($3.20 favourite) also sat close to the lead alongside Mesmer ($6).
Chilli Pop and Praline led the field into the straight but the former soon began to fade.
There was no such issue for Praline as she fought on along the rails while Aneesa, Mesmer, and Plucky Chance ($17) on the extreme outside all began to threaten the leader.
But at the 200m mark Bell-Pitomac got Lunn's filly to kick again and Praline proved too good, going on to win by half-a-length from the Cameron Crockett-trained Entreat ($3.50, which had run home well through the middle of the track.
Plucky Chance finished in third.