Clinton Mcdonald has higher ambitions for Miss Ole as the filly that he believes should have a perfect record so far notched her second win in three outings.
The daughter of popular sire Ole Kirk wore down the tenacious effort of $5.50 betting app chance Espana to score by a narrow nose margin but it was the courage that she showed under Ben Allen’s urgings that has McDonald looking to ready her for a springtime focus.
“She’s good and she’s a winner,” McDonald said after the Brendan Drechsler Handicap win.
“She probably should be three-for-three and she can go to the paddock, come back and improve again.”
Miss Ole ($2 favourite) was a $360,000 purchase at the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and debuted at Warrnambool for a fifth placing in what Ben Melham described her as having had an impeded run in the straight.
The two-year-old filly made up for that by winning at Sandown over 1000-metres on May 24 before striking again at Flemington.
“She had to be tough there, but she was coming and coming,” McDonald added.
“I was confident, but the winning post was coming, too.”
“I know Lloyd Kennewell has got a good opinion of his horse that ran second (Espana), and it ran fantastic, so I think it will be a good form race.”
McDonald was pleased how his filly carried 2½-kilos more than the second placegetter and that the experience down the Flemington straight would benefit her.
The placings were rounded by SonofKirk ($11) a half-length away in third.
