Ana Royale is in line for a rematch in Brisbane with her Australasian Oaks conquerors.
The Stuart Webb-trained filly finished strongly in Saturday’s Group One Australasian Oaks (2010m) at Morphettville in Adelaide behind the two favoured runners, Egg Tart and Kenedna.
Webb said the plan was now for Ana Royale to go to the Group Three SA Fillies Classic (2500m) in Adelaide on Saturday week.
Next month’s Group One Queensland Oaks (2400m) is also on the radar so long as she continues to cope well with her preparation.
Luxbet has the Chris Waller-trained Egg Tart the $4 favourite for the Queensland Oaks ahead of her stablemate Dawn Wall, who won Saturday’s Gold Coast Bracelet, at $5.
The Darren Weir-trained Kenedna is at $5.50 while Ana Royale shares the next line of betting at $13.
Webb said Ana Royale ran a terrific race in Saturday’s Oaks but it came as no surprise to him.
“I expected her to be that good,” Webb said.
“I genuinely thought she could go there and win the race. Probably my confidence got dented a little bit the last few weeks because of how tough the race ended up being.
“She’s a natural stayer and I thought she ran terrific.
“She’ll go back to the race in two weeks (Fillies Classic) and then it’s two weeks into the Queensland Oaks.
“At this stage she’s a filly who’s really thriving and going great.”
Webb has fellow three-year-old filly Plenty To Like nominated for both the $400,000 Scone Inglis 3YO Guineas (1400m) and the Group Three Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) in NSW on Saturday but is leaning to keeping her in Melbourne for a fillies benchmark-78 on her home track at Caulfield.
“I’d say she would be 60-40 to stay here,” Webb said.
Plenty To Like dead-heated for first in a race at Caulfield two starts ago before heading to Adelaide to chase black-type but she was overhauled in the straight to finish fourth in the Listed Nitschke Stakes (1400m).
