A stakes mission has been confirmed for Bound To Blush after the talented filly maintained her unbeaten record at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Bound To Blush took out the Follow Sydney Carnival On Facebook To Win Handicap (1200m) by 1-3/4-lengths and will return to the same track for the Listed PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) next month.
The PJ Bell is also a target for stablemate Princess Layla who finished eighth in the same event.
When questioned by stewards over the tactics adopted on Princess Layla, jockey Jim Cassidy revealed he had broken his little toe when the filly jumped awkwardly and made contact with the side of the starting stall.
Cassidy, who declared he would be fit to ride at Rosehill Guineas day on Saturday, lost his iron for several strides in the incident.
“If I haven’t broken my little toe, I’m an astronaut,” Cassidy told stewards.
Cassidy said after the incident at the start he felt the filly would have had to do too much work to press forward as originally intended so he elected to sit three wide and midfield.
“What else was I going to do?” Cassidy said to stewards.
“I wasn’t going to burn it after what had happened. I would have done too much work to be there.”
O’Shea believes Bound To Blush, who has won three from three, and also Princess Layla can play their parts in the PJ Bell.
“Bound To Blush has a lot of improvement in her on whatever she did today and I think she’ll be competitive,” O’Shea said.
“I think both fillies have got a lot to offer going forward.”
Bound To Blush’s victory brought up a winning double for premier jockey Nash Rawiller who had earlier partnered well bred three-year-old Compass to a two length victory in the Onemorenomore@Vinery Handicap (1900m).
The Gai Waterhouse-trained gelding is a son of Redoute’s Choice out of Valkyrie Diva.
Stakeswinner Valkyrie Diva is a half-sister to champion Makybe Diva who won three straight Melbourne Cups between 2003 and 2005.
Compass is still among nominations for the Australian Derby but whether he gets that far this preparation remains to be seen.
“He’s a lovely horse,” Rawiller said.
“The penny hasn’t dropped with him yet and he feels like he’ll be a better horse in time.”
Compass won on debut at Newcastle last month before finishing second at Canterbury at his only other start.
