Trainer John Sadler will take steps to ensure Heidilicious is on her best barrier behaviour for the Queensland Oaks and is confident of landing his first Group One since returning to training in his own right.
Heidilicious missed the start badly when she reared up as the barriers opened and lost all chance at her first Brisbane start in the Group Three The Roses at Doomben on May 21.
The daughter of Zabeel still produced an eye-catching performance, flashing home to finish sixth just over three lengths behind the winner, Kiwi filly Scarlett Lady.
“She can be a concern in the barriers and reared up and missed the start in The Roses,” Sadler said.
“Unfortunately the attendant may have let her go a second too early.
“I’ll be asking stewards if I can have two attendants in the barriers with her this time.
“The one good thing with her barrier (15) is that she’ll be late in and hopefully she’ll be on her best behaviour.”
Sadler worked for four years for Lloyd Williams before deciding to train in his own right again in conjunction with Malua Racing which is managed by Troy Corstens.
He currently has 26 horses in work at Flemington and is in the process of building a second stable with 30 boxes at Ballarat.
His last winner for Williams was Efficient in the Group One Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington in October 2009.
“The set-up with Malua racing is going very well at the moment and we’re building a second stable at Ballarat,” Sadler said.
“They’ve just put in a new Pro-ride track at Ballarat and that’s one of the reasons we decided to set up there.
“I want two stables so I can rotate our horses.”
Sadler hasn’t ruled out backing up Heidilicious in the Group One Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday week.
“If she runs well in the Oaks as I expect there’s every chance she could run in the Derby,” Sadler said.
“We’ve got The Chevron entered for the Derby but he’s no good thing of getting a run.
“If the two of them started I’d probably prefer the filly.”
Sadler has won seven Group One races during his 32-year training career and is confident of landing his first since leaving Williams in 2009.
“I think she’s got an excellent chance in the Oaks and will be hard to beat,” he said.
“I’ve only ever had one runner in the Queensland Oaks, when Ladybird Blue ran fourth to Joie Denise (in 1995).”
AAP TURF
