Connections of Vinery Stud Stakes hopeful Panova have long identified the filly as a staying type, so the fact she is already a two-time stakes winner over shorter journeys has been a bonus.
Rounding out her spring with back-to-back Group 3 victories in the Reginald Allen (1400m) and Carbine Club Stakes (1600m), the three-year-old has been building in two recent starts, including a closing fifth in the Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) on March 14.
Raced by Ricky Surace’s B2B Thoroughbreds, Panova gets to a middle distance for the first time in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday and trainer Chris Waller’s right-hand man, Charlie Duckworth, says they’re looking forward to seeing what she can produce.
“Ricky Surace, they do the gene testing and the blood testing, and it all indicates she is a proper stayer,” Duckworth said.
“So they were rapt in the spring when she won the Carbine Club the way she did. They said, ‘she’s not even meant to be doing this yet, she is meant for an Oaks trip’.
“Obviously, she is going to have to be very good to beat Ohope Wins, but if she is a genuine stayer, the 2400 (of the Australian Oaks next start) should see a fair match.”
Panova will be partnered by Tommy Berry, who was in the saddle for her two black-type wins and again last start when she put the writing on the wall that she was wanting further.
“I was really happy with the way she found the line last start, and she’s not going to be giving as much of a start this time around with the smaller field,” Berry said.
“She probably doesn’t want it too wet, but she’s warming up to something.”
Panova is on the fourth line of Vinery markets at $6 with Ohope Wins a $2.90 favourite, ahead of Victorian Salty Pearl ($3.60).
The latter has form around runaway Randwick Guineas winner Sheza Alibi, while Belle Cheval is also being kept safe at $3.80 after finishing a close second to unbeaten Kiwi filly Well Written in New Zealand last start.
