Puerto Vallarta to debut

Nicely bred first starter Puerto Vallarta is our only runner at Kilmore on Wednesday, the chestnut daughter of Flying Spur due to debut in the third race - a Super Vobis 1107m contest.

A $200,000 Easter sale graduate, she is a half sister to the tough stakes placed 16 times winner Mukareena and the metropolitan winner Back In Style. Her dam Call Me Kareena was also smart - winning six races including two at city level in Sydney.

Just the one runner at Echuca on Thursday also - Steel Stilettos taking her place in the fourth race, a Super Vobis 1400m maiden.

The daughter of Hussonet has had just the two runs, faring well on both occasions. A debut third to subsequent city winner Lady Gaga at Mornington in mid November, she was a solid fourth second up at Kilmore - again running into a city class filly in the shape of Connemara Bay.

She strips all the fitter third up but her main obstacle is a tricky gate - barrier 15. Luke Currie is riding well however and takes the ride. 

We kick off the New Year with Shylock's Daughter at Flemington, the lightly raced five-year-old due to contest the final event, the New Year Handicap over 1700m.

Drawn nicely in eight and again to be ridden by Dwayne Dunn, she was very good over the final stages of a Flemington mile race last time out and she will appreciate the extra 100m. A mare who performed consistently in New Zealand, she has been shaping well here - close up at all three Australian outings.