Group One placegetter House Of Cartier (Alamosa) has stamped her class with a resounding win at Newcastle, prompting connections to entertain a Gr.2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) bid.
Third behind Princess Jenni (NZ) (High Chaparral) in the Gr.1 Schweppes Oaks in Adelaide last May, House Of Cartier relished a distance rise to 1850 metres in Saturday’s Australian Bloodstock Handicap, sweeping down the outside to score.
Winning trainer John Sargent was not at Newcastle but stable representative Campbell Ashby said they came into the race quietly confident they had the class horse.
Brenton Avdulla settled House Of Cartier midfield and she unleashed a strong run to score by three-quarters of a length over the Go Racing owned Sir Pippin.
Avdulla reunited with House Of Cartier having partnered her to her most recent win in March and said he was confident she had returned in good order.
“I’ve had a bit to do with her and she is Group One placed,” Avdulla said.
“I took a lot out of her trial the other day, I thought she trialled really well and if she was anywhere near her best today she would be very hard to beat.”
Bred in partnership by Mr Bill Gleeson, Pee Gee Bloodstock, Nearco Stud Ltd, House of Cartier is a daughter of four time Group One winner Shez Sinsational. She is raced by Gleeson and Peter Gillespie.
