The Rivette Series Final is the aim for the Matthew Williams-trained Alma’s Rossa who will be out to press her claims in a heat of the series at Sandown.
Alma’s Rossa ran home well for third behind Pedrena and Samovare in a 1400m fillies race at Flemington last start and steps to 1600m for the third run of her campaign in Wednesday’s Clanbrooke Racing Handicap.
Williams opted to scratch Alma’s Rossa from a 1600m race for three-year-olds at Flemington last Saturday won by Thaad.
Alma’s Rossa is scheduled to head to the $120,000 Rivette Series Final (1600m) for fillies at Flemington on Saturday week.
“This whole preparation was targeted around the Rivette Series,” Williams said.
“She got points for running third at Flemington last start so she should be right to get a run in the final, but it would be nice to win one of the lead-up races going into it.
“We scratched her from Saturday at Flemington because it didn’t look a bad race and she drew poorly.
“Back against the fillies here and with Jordan Childs’ claim, she probably gets into that grade all right.”
Williams took encouragement from Alma’s Rossa’s last-start performance and said the filly had trained on well.
“I thought she was really good at Flemington, knowing that she had a bit of improvement to come out of that run,” he said.
“So I would be going down pretty confident that she would be pretty hard to beat on Wednesday.”
Alma’s Rossa has won two of her 10 starts, with both victories coming on her home track at Warrnambool. She has also had three city placings.
She could help her jockey to a milestone with Childs needing one city win to outride his claim.
Childs’ book of rides includes Holy Seal who is an early $4.40 favourite for the Resimax Handicap (race two) while Alma’s Rossa (race four) is also the $4.40 favourite.
