Neil Evans
It's not often a horse takes the big step from a maiden win to Benchmark 72, but that task shapes well within reach of exciting filly Tuileries ($2 favourite on TAB) at the Royal Randwick meeting on Boxing Day (Thursday).
And it looms as the platform for a tilt at the $3 million Magic Million 3YO Guineas over 1400m at the Gold Coast on January 11.
An emerging headline grabber by dual Cox Plate winner So You Think, Tuileries returned off a 34-week break with a dominant three-length win under lights at Canterbury Park just under two weeks ago.
That was only her second start after a somewhat luckless debut as a two-year-old on April 1 at Warwick Farm.
That day as a rock solid favourite, she charged home late after a testing run in a big field to be beaten under two lengths.
Yet while punters and connections were left lamenting, the writing was on the wall talentwise and given plenty of educational and maturity time after by trainer Peter Snowden, the Christmas-New Year period has ignited an encouraging future.
After two trials, she sat closer first-up at Canterbury in a Super Maiden before putting her opposition to the sword with a superior burst of acceleration over the final 250m.
Over 1250m, Tuileries clocked a much faster time for the final 600m than impressive 1100m winner Vanessi ($3.1 fav) who also returns as a leading chance in the TAB Handicap Handicap (1000m) on Boxing Day.
Kept ticking over since the Canterbury success, Tuileries tackles the Buy An Arrowfield Yearling Handicap over 1300m, with Tom Sherry taking over from Tim Clark in the saddle.
She could well dominate betting, although Godolphin mare Drift Net ($2.70) emerges as a serious threat having not missed a place in four runs this prep up to deeper BM 78 level.
And at longer odds, talented mare Imposant ($9) will be an intriguing market watch, resuming off two quiet trials for the Kris Lees yard at Newcastle.
Tuileries was around $16 across All-In betting for the Gold Coast showdown, well behind Snitzanova on the $6 line.
The Group 3-Scheweppes Summer Cup meeting on Boxing Day is naturally dominated by three-year-old races early, with many stables eyeing off a berth at the lucrative Gold Coast carnival.
Fine and sunny weather is forecast, with the track expected to be a Good 4.
View final fields with full form & race replays for Royal Randwick here