Graceful Anna Wears The Silk Stocking

 Saturday, 8 May 2010: Sydney trainer David Pfieffer made the right choice when he selected $150,000 Silk Stocking as today's target for his classy filly Graceful Anna at the Gold Coast.

Pfeiffer had the option of starting Graceful Anna gaisnt her own age group in the $125,000 Gold Coast Guineas, but elected to take on the older mares for the richer prizemoney over the same 1200m course.

"There was a couple of handy colts in the Guineas and I thought this was the better option," Pfeiffer said after Graceful Anna kept her unbeaten record on the Gold Coast track intact.

"She was up against some well performed mares but I was happy to take them on."

enjoyed a good trail on the fence behind the pace and when the split came turning for home her rider Larry Cassidy took full advantage of the split to pounce on the lead.

Her quick turn of foot enabled her to open up a winning break and gave her the advantage over another Sydney mare Kanzan, who made ground strongly over the last 80 metres for second.

Graceful Anna has now won six of her last seven starts, her sequence ending when she was beaten first-up over 1000m on a heavy track first up at Eagle Farm last month.

That was her first start since she beat AJC Derby winner Shoot Out in the Magic Millions Trophy for three-year-olds at the Gold Coast in January, a victory that influenced Pfeiffer to pass up the autumn carnival in Sydney to target the Queensland winter.

"She is doing so well. I think she is much stronger this preparation."

Pfeiffer has a range of races in mind for Graceful Anna over the next six weeks but has two Group One targets at the top of his list with next month's Stradbroke Handicap and Winter Stakes for fillies and mares his major priorities.