An encouraging trials performance at Te Teko on Monday has put Cambridge filly Santa Catarina on a path set by Group One winner Sofia Rosa.

Santa Catarina races in the same Lib Petagna ownership as Sofia Rosa and she showed much promise last season with a second then two wins from as many starts.

She ended her campaign with a Stakes win at Te Rapa in May and trainer Stephen Marsh was very happy with her first serious hit-out this term when she finished a head second behind Stella Noire in an open 840m heat at Te Teko.

“She is coming up very well,” Marsh said. “She could run next week at Taupo in the three-year-old fillies 1100m then could go straight to Sydney. She’ll have the same type of programme Sofia Rosa had.”

Sofia Rosa was sent to Sydney as a spring three-year-old with a win under her belt and, though unsuccessful in a couple of runs, she returned to New Zealand having benefited from the experience.

She carried on with top form before returning to Sydney to win the Gr.1 ATC Oaks (2400m) after being relegated from first in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham.