Unbeaten filly Without Parallel will have the chance to enhance her credentials for the $2 million The Kosciuszko when she makes her Sydney debut at the opening metropolitan meeting of the new racing season. Trainer Matt Dunn has again employed his proven formula of giving his promising young horses their initial test in Saturday metropolitan company in Brisbane before bringing them south to contest a Highway Handicap, with the rising four-year-old set to line up in Saturday’s 1200m edition at Rosehill.

“Younger horses have got to be competitive at Saturday level in Queensland,” Dunn explained. “Older horses, not so much—they can get away with a midweek race in Brisbane. But younger, inexperienced horses need to show they can be competitive or win at Saturday level, which she has clearly done. She fits the mould really well.”

Without Parallel won her first two starts in the NSW Northern Rivers region before being spelled to further mature and strengthen. She returned with an impressive all-the-way victory in Brisbane at Eagle Farm, booking her ticket for Saturday’s Rosehill test. While the anticipated heavy track will be a new experience, Dunn believes her racing style and action will allow her to handle it and possibly secure herself a berth in The Kosciuszko.

“We’re getting pretty close to the Kosciuszko and she’s a speed horse that runs out a strong 1200, so that’s part of the reason she’s in Sydney this week,” Dunn said. “There were other options, but we wanted to give her a crack at Highway class and see what she can do. She’s not that big, but she’s tough. She did plenty of work first-up in a decent Brisbane race and stuck on really well.”

Dunn also holds Kosciuszko ambitions for another emerging filly, Vivika, who was runner-up to future stakes performer Sunrays on debut at Doomben in February. Vivika will attempt to make it two wins from two starts this campaign when she steps out at Eagle Farm on Saturday, with a strong performance likely to see her follow Without Parallel south.

“She’s a sharp filly,” Dunn said. “She won first-up at Grafton during the carnival, and she will run in Brisbane on Saturday. I think she’s a decent sprinter, so hopefully she will be the next one we take down there.”

Dunn also confirmed that talented import Sea King is progressing well in his recovery from a tendon injury and remains on track to return to racing in late summer.