Trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are content to takes on the ‘boys’ with Joely in a Stakes race at Flemington in their bid to win the VRC Oaks.
Joely is one of two fillies who will contest the Group 2 Drummond Golf Vase (2040m) on Saturday, the filly’s last outing before she runs in the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 5.
The last filly to win the Vase was Jameka in 2015 who would then go on to claim the Oaks at her next outing.
The more traditional path to the Oaks is via the Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday week, but Busuttin said the Vase was a better fit for the filly’s path to the Group 1 contest next month.
Busuttin said the team had decided to bypass the Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield last Saturday with this race in mind.
“She was nominated for the Ethereal, but the aim is the Oaks, and I just thought with 12 days to the Oaks, it fits in nicely,” Busuttin said.
“I also thought Flemington suited her better than Caulfield and she’s worked up well (with Blind Raise at Flemington on Tuesday) and she will go into the race well.”
Joely has only had the three starts, winning on debut over 1400m at Echuca in August before staying at that trip when sixth in the Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield on September 19.
At her most recent outing, Joely ran on from the second half of the field to finish second, albeit six lengths astern, to Saintly Dancer in the Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on October 3.
Saintly Dancer confirmed the performance by going on to win the Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield last Saturday, and importantly Craig Williams rides the filly again on Saturday.
“Our filly is an out-and-out 2000-metre, mile-and-a-half filly and she was strong through the line last time,” Busuttin said.
“The form line is very good and it should suit her.”
