NSW raider Norwegian Bliss (NZ) (El Roca) will attempt to keep her perfect record intact when she makes her Melbourne debut at Caulfield.
And it will be the Nathan Doyle-trained mare’s first outing at stakes level when she runs in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.
Norwegian Bliss is unbeaten in seven starts and has been well-placed by Doyle after starting her career in September last year.
Of those seven victories, only two have been on metropolitan tracks at Canterbury and most recently at Randwick over 1200m on November 1.
But importantly, Norwegian Bliss did win her only start over 1400m, at Newcastle, leading throughout.
Norwegian Bliss was taken to Caulfield on Tuesday for a look at the track which can be a graveyard for NSW raiders at their first start at the course.
Entrusted to care of Grace Willoughby, a NSW-based jockey, Norwegian Bliss handled the different surrounds well.
“She’s come to Melbourne in great order. Nathan made sure he sent her down in fantastic order,” Willoughby said.
“It was great for her to get a look at the track, and I think she prefers Melbourne, to be honest.
“It was good to come down a bit earlier than we needed to let her get this gallop and let her settle in as it’s a bit of an ask with the travelling from Newcastle to here.”
While noting Saturday’s race is a significant class rise over the company Norwegian Bliss has been competing against, Willoughby said Doyle was very good at setting his horses for particular races.
Willoughby said Melbourne’s fickle weather would also be no problem for the mare.
“She’s run on everything, and nothing has pulled her up so far,” Willoughby said.
“She’s a very tough mare, she knows how to win. She knows where that post is.”
Blake Shinn takes the ride on Saturday.
