Aaron Purcell is confident VRC Oaks favourite Aloisia can do the job, although Gai Waterhouse believes she has the filly who can deliver her first win in the $1 million race.
Aloisia tightened her grip on VRC Kennedy Oaks favouritism with a dominant win in Saturday’s Group Two Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley.
Purcell says Aloisia has come through the race in great condition.
“We planned for her to peak fourth-up and I think we’ve got it pretty much right,” Purcell said.
Purcell, who has taken over suspended trainer Ciaron Maher’s large team of horses, doesn’t believe the 2500 metres will be an issue on November 9.
“The first time she got to 2000 was on Saturday and was really strong through the line,” he said.
“I think the 2500 at Flemington will be no problem.”
Purcell conceded the Waterhouse-trained Pinot will be a hard horse to run down.
“But I’m pretty confident my filly is good enough to do the job and obviously the punters think so as well,” he said.
“She’s definitely going to run a huge race.”
Waterhouse says while Purcell is justified in thinking Aloisia will win, she and training partner Adrian Bott equally believe Pinot will cross the line first.
“I can’t fault her,” Waterhouse said.
“The other filly’s favourite but Pinot doesn’t know that.
“As the bar gets higher she keeps jumping.”
Waterhouse said it was nice to have a filly talented enough to get into the Oaks.
“I’ve never won an Oaks and I made up my mind at the beginning of this year that that was one race that I was going to target.”
Waterhouse is even more adamant when it comes to Global Glamour’s chances in the Group One Myer Classic (1600m).
“She’ll win,” she said.
“She’ll bolt in.
“She’s just too good and she’ll run the mile with her eyes shut.
“She’s done it twice at Group One level.”
Waterhouse and Bott also have Prompt Response in Saturday’s Myer Classic.
