Consistent filly Doll In Hi Heels remains a query on heavy ground but her stable believes she is peaking at the right time to qualify for next month’s Rivette Series Final at Flemington.
Trained by Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra, the daughter of Perfectly Ready has been placed at five of her six starts but took until this campaign to win her maiden at Bendigo.
After getting out of her ground last start at Caulfield she returns to city class at Sandown on Wednesday for the third heat of the Rivette Series, the Ice Creams & Dreams Handicap (1600m) which seems certain to be run on a heavy track.
“She’s been consistent but we really don’t know about her on real heavy ground,” Ellerton said.
The stable expected a better performance from Doll In Hi Heels last start at Caulfield when, second-up on a slow track, she made a run from second last to finish a midfield sixth to Shihabi on May 26.
“She got a bit further back than we expected from a good barrier last time but she was second-up at a mile (1600m) and just peaked on her run after circling the field,” Ellerton said.
“Third-up she should be starting getting up near her top and hopefully she can win and get to the (Rivette) final.”
Doll In Hi Heels was placed at her four country starts in her first campaign but is now developing into a genuine city prospect.
“She was probably just a bit weak in her first campaign but she has matured a bit more now and is a bit stronger,” Ellerton said.
Doll In Hi Heels just failed to win her maiden at Geelong when beaten in a photo-finish in November but first-up this campaign broke through with a three-quarter length win over Amo La Nonna at Bendigo on May 4.
Mick Price plays a double hand in Wednesday’s event with Kitty Cotswold, who will be ridden by apprentice Ben Knobel, and Brochette who has Craig Newitt guiding her.
Kitty Cotswold has been placed at all of her seven starts and is dual winner at Traralgon and last start at Ballarat.
A 1600-metre placing at Caulfield on Boxing Day enhances her chances at Sandown.
Brochette was placed over 1600 metres at Sandown last campaign and is fitter for her last two starts including, most recently, a third over 1550 metres at Morphettville.
The John Sadler-trained Ole Rose is unbeaten in two starts at Kilmore (1200m) and Bendigo (1400m) and with her run-on style should handle the extra distance.
The $100,000 Rivette Final (1600m) is at Flemington on July 7.
AAP
