DISTANCE TEST FOR SHATUSLA

Shatusla steps up in distance when she runs at Benalla today.

Shatusla runs in the fourth race, the Maiden Plate, over 2046 metres with Alana Kelly in the saddle.

The daughter of Vancouver is racing beyond 1500 metres for the first time after finishing a solid on pace fourth last time out over 1500 metres at Sale.

“She’s nice and fit that’s for sure and she was respectable last start,” Mike said.

“She shapes as though she needs a bit further even though she’s by Vancouver and she’s relaxing better in her races since we took the blinkers off her.

“The distance is the obvious query and I’m not entirely convinced however, the calendar is pretty scarce for opportunities for fillies like this so we will take our chance and find out.”