Trainer Andrew Bobbin has wanted to extend the distance of his promising filly Anphina and finally gets that chance in Adelaide.
And Anphina gets her first opportunity at Group 1 level when she runs in the Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Bobbin had hoped to test Anphina as a stayer during the spring in the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington, but a setback along the way halted those plans.
Instead, he turned his attention to the autumn, and in particular the Adelaide Carnival.
Anphina has made two trips across the South Australian border from Bobbin’s base at Stawell recently, for two fourth-place finishes in Stakes company.
The filly contested the Listed Claire Lindop Stakes (1600m) on April 1 and more recently was beaten just under 1-½ lengths behind Jennilala in the Group 3 Auraria Stakes (1800m), the traditional Oaks lead-up.
“You don’t get too many chances to be in Group 1 races and she deserves her shot,” Bobbin said.
“Her two lead up runs have been very good and I think she has been looking for the 2000 metres, and possibly further.
“It’s a proper Group 1 race and it’s a very deep field. It’s the toughest field that she has come up against, but she has drawn a good barrier and most of the main chances have drawn out wide.
“She should be able to get herself into a decent enough position from that gate and she has proven that she is very tenacious, so if she is in striking distance, she will be putting her best foot forward.
“Whether that is good enough, we don’t know, but she certainly deserves a chance.”
Anphina showed glimpses of form as a two-year-old last winter, finishing fourth at Flemington in June before a closing sixth in the Listed Gibson Carmichael Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in July.
That prompted Bobbin to set a path to the VRC Oaks, but after a first-up win in Adelaide in September, Anphina had a setback which prompted a late appearance at the end of the Melbourne spring.
“This is the first time that I’ve been able to get her up to 2000 metres,” Bobbin said.
“If we had been going through restricted races we would have got there much quicker, but we’ve plotted this path to the Oaks.
“Realistically, I think the race (Group 3) South Australian Fillies Classic (on May 20), and the 2500 metres of that race is the perfect target for her.”
