A strong win at Flemington is likely to have earned Jalan Jalan a shot at a Group race early in the new season.
Trainer Colin Little has pinpointed next month’s Group Three Quezette Stakes for three-year-old fillies at Caulfield for Jalan Jalan after the juvenile raced to a three-length win in Saturday’s The Flemington Family Handicap (1200m).
Little had been considering the Quezette Stakes (1100m) for another city-winning juvenile Safariann but revealed that filly broke a splint bone in the paddock, which required an operation.
“She (Safariann) will miss the spring, but she’ll be alright,” Little said.
“She just needs TLC for a little bit and she’ll be back for the autumn.
“We were thinking about the Quezette with her, but this one might take its place now.”
Jalan Jalan was having her third start after winning at Mornington on debut and finishing third to Green Card at Caulfield.
The filly settled behind the speed in Saturday’s race before Damien Oliver changed course and got Jalan Jalan into the clear close to the inside section to make her charge.
Jalan Jalan ($4.40) sprinted away over the final 200m to beat Gold Symphony ($10) with three-quarters of a length to Portman ($18) third.
Little said Jalan Jalan was hard-going and “a bit silly” at home, but more relaxed and professional on race day.
“It’s amazing, she just gets on a racetrack (on race day) and turns into a racehorse,” he said.
Oliver believes Jalan Jalan deserves her chance in the Quezette.
“He (Little) has just got to keep her ticking over to that race and she might have a bit of fitness on some of the other fillies coming back (from spells),” Oliver said.
