By Sarah Whitelaw
15 September 2003

Paraca, champion two year old filly a few seasons ago, is said to be aimed at the Cox Plate. The race is considered the Australian championship and has been won by some of the greats of the turf. 

The four year old daughter of Kitwood is now trained by Andrew Balding, the first season trainer who has enjoyed a cracking first year. He has trained Casual Look to win the Oaks and his Phoenix Reach ran a cracker in the St Leger when third to hot favourite, Brian Boru. 

Paraca will be staying in Australia after the race before retiring to stud. She has been given 54 kgs for the Cox Plate. 

There has been a lot of money for the filly, backed in from 66-1 to 25-1. The race will be run at Moonee Valley next month. 

Trained by Geoff Woodruff in South Africa, Paraca was a brilliant winner of the Allan Robinson before taking the Thekwini Stakes. She was named champion two year old filly and went onto win both the Majorca Stakes and the first leg of the Fillies Tiara.