Australian Oaks runner-up Aliyana Tilde will be set on a path towards the Epsom Handicap this spring with the prestigious mile to determine whether she steps up in distance.
Trainer Kerry Parker is wary of declaring her a Caulfield Cup contender mindful that many staying three-year-olds don’t make the transition in the new season.
The Guy Walter-trained Streama, winner of the Oaks (2400m), will not be extended beyond the 1600 metres of the Myer Classic during her next campaign.
“Aliyana Tilde is back in work and I was pleased to see she has strengthened up quite a bit. She was a light filly,” Parker said.
“As for the Caulfield Cup, it’s very hard to tell.
“The step up from being a three-year-old filly to open company is a big one.
“We’ll set her for the Epsom and how she gets through that will determine where she goes.
“It will decide whether she is heading to the Caulfield Cup.
“We’ll potter along and take it as it comes.”
The Epsom Handicap (1600m) is at Randwick on October 6, the same day as the Metropolitan (2400m), the Group One target for Aliyana Tilde’s stablemate Nextanix.
Although his two wins have been at 1300 and 1400 metres, Nextanix has performed admirably over distances including his third in the Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) before his fourth in the Sydney Cup (3200m) won by Niwot.
“I think the Metroplitan is the race for him if he shows he’s back to his best,” Parker said.
