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New Zealand raider to have two starts in Australia

Group 2-winning New Zealand-trained filly Llanacord (Contributer), who finished fourth in the New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m), will have another run in Australia after Saturday’s Australasian Oaks (Gr 1, 2000m). 

The three-year-old is also nominated for the SA Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) on May 8 and also the SA Fillies Classic (Gr 3, 2500m) on May 15. 

"She's nominated for the SA Derby and also the Fillies Classic the week after that," trainer Stephen Nickalls said in Adelaide this week.

"I believe she's a proper mile-and-a-half horse, so it'll be either one of those, depending on how she goes on Saturday.

"If she knocked the Oaks off we'd probably have a go at the Derby, but the Fillies Classic looks like a nice race for her too."

Llanacord has won two of her ten career starts, including the Lowland Stakes (Gr 2, 2100m), and finished fourth over 1600 metres last start. However, it was her effort in the New Zealand Oaks behind Amarelinha (Savabeel) – that stamped her as a live Australasian Oaks prospect.

While in SA, the horse has been staying with local trainer Ryan Balfour and has pleased Nickalls.

"She's settled in well – Ryan and the team have been brilliant," Nickalls said.

"She had a nice gallop (Tuesday) morning. Todd Pannell rode her for us and he was happy enough.

"She'd bounced out of her last run good. She a fit and healthy horse, ready to go on Saturday."