Well-bred Swan Hill runner

A HALF-sister to Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare is set to start her racing career at Swan Hill on Friday.

Nana Jenn, a sister to stakes winner Lycurgus as well as the 2019 Melbourne Cup champion, will run in a 1200m maiden.

Breeder Spendthrift Farm paid $320,000 for the Star Witness filly at last year’s Magic Millions sale on the Gold Coast.

That price was more than four times the amount Lycurgus fetched as a yearling while Vow And Declare was passed in when he went through the sales ring.

Tasmanian Craig Newitt will ride Nana Jenn in her debut outing.

While Nana Jenn was an expensive filly, co-trainer Trent Busuttin said connections had no great expectations for her debut outing.

Nana Jenn finished a close third in wet ground in her last jumpout at Cranbourne on August 16.

“She’s a nice enough filly that is going to get better with time.” Busuttin, who trains Nana Jenn in partnership with Natalie Young, said.

“She’s shown enough to say to us that she’s going to pick up a race soon enough, but she’s still got to strengthen up a bit.”

Busuttin said the stable and Spendthrift Farm had plenty of time to develop Nana Jenn, who was likely to improve in subsequent preparations.

“She’s going to be a better filly as she gets older, but she’s owned by Spendthrift, who have bought her for a potential broodmare,” Busuttin said.