Victoria’s leading trainer Emma Stewart and driver Chris Alford have their hands all over tonight’s Neville R Stud Victorian Oaks heats at Tabcorp Park Melton, and are likely to shape the $150,000 final.
Alford will take the reins of Dancingwithsierra, Courageous Call and A Piccadilly Princess in the first, second and third heats, with the bookends likely to start favourite and tipped on top by Good Form experts.
Alford said Dancingwithsierra, by Modern Art out of Sierra Tango, had advanced nicely as a three-year-old.
“She was a really nice two-year-old, probably a length or so behind the best ones, and as a three-year-old she has come back a lot stronger and still has the same sort of speed,” Alford told RSN’s Inside Word. “It all goes well for her running well this week.”
VIDEO: JASON BONNINGTON BREAKS DOWN THE VICTORIAN OAKS HEATS
The first four in each heat qualify for the April 16 final and, on paper, Dancingwithsierra’s biggest threat in tonight’s first heat appears trainer Emma Stewart’s filly Heavens Trend.
“Heavens Trend is obviously, I think, the one to beat in that heat,” Stewart told RSN’s Gait Speed. “She’s come back in good form and she’s always been at the top of her age group, so she is definitely going to be hard to beat.”
But Alford said Dancingwithsierra was “really, really quick – that’s probably her best asset”.
“She can fly the gate and then either lead or take a sit if the pace is too hot, and she does have a devastating last 400,” he said. “She’s drawn well and, as we know, she has got gate speed. We will be looking to take up a forward spot there and have her in the firing line.”
Stewart will have reason for confidence in heat two when Celebrity Guest, a filly by Mach Three out of Celebrity Ball, will likely start favourite, .
“Celebrity Guest was disappointing in Adelaide, but I think she has come back better and will run a good race,” Stewart said.
Nikkibadwagon, for father-and-son trainer and driver Barry and Aaron Dunn, looms as her most likely threat, while Alford will steer Courageous Call.
“She went very well first up,” Alford said of Courageous Call’s last-start second at Warragul. “She probably just needed the run, she had only just had a couple of quiet trials, so the run will just top her off. She’s drawn out a little bit wide and she’s got to be driven sit-sprint, but she is going to be a really nice filly once she gets the hang of it. Hopefully she can get a good run, run the first four and make the final.”
Competition will be most hot in the third and final Oaks heat, when Alford will drive the likely favourite, Mark Purdon’s raider A Piccadilly Princess.
“She has raced really well … and Mark thinks she is in top class, probably not quite up to the one that won the New South Wales Oaks (Our Dream About Me), but probably not far behind,” Alford said. “Like most of Mark’s horses, they seem pretty professional and versatile. You can use them up or if things don’t suit you can settle and go around. She’s drawn well, so I would say she will probably possie up pretty handy.”
Stewart has Whirily School and Priddy Catchy in the final heat, which will also feature Group 1 winner Flojos Gold, while fancied South Australian filly Queen Of Sharkz has drawn the pole.
Both of Stewart’s runners have drawn poorly in barriers nine and 10.
“Whirily School and Priddy Catchy have drawn the hardest heat,” Stewart said. “Whirily School is a really, really nice filly. I think class will get her through.”
The night will also feature the Group 3 mares’ race Harness Breeders Victoria Jodie’s Babe, the Exclusive Homes Maltese Cup and three heats of the Australian Pacing Gold for two-year-old fillies.
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