Trainer Luke Oliver is banking on class being a more significant factor than weight when Jessy Belle bids for her second straight win at Saturday’s Flemington meeting.
The filly will carry 60kg in the Vintage Crop and the Curragh Racecourse Handicap (1400m) after Oliver decided against engaging a claiming apprentice.
Chris Symons has ridden Jessy Belle to three of her four victories this season which have helped push her stakes tally to more than $220,000 while also nudging her rating to 78, seven points clear of her nearest rival in Saturday’s race.
Oliver is confident the filly is capable of conceding at least 5kg to her opposition and winning.
“She’s definitely classes above anything in that race because she’s a genuinely good horse,” Oliver said.
“She just has better form than these horses, the only thing is the weight. She’s a lightly framed filly.”
Jessy Belle is a $1.95 favourite to win her Flemington assignment while stablemate Davarick is a $9 shot in the same race.
Oliver believes the class gulf between the pair means Davarick faces a tough task to beat her stablemate.
Davarick finished fifth at Cranbourne last start but the form out of the race proved to be strong in last Saturday’s Rivette Series Final at Flemington.
Cuban Lass and Ardelle finished just ahead of Davarick before placing in the Rivette Series Final.
Oliver says Davarick is capable of improving on firmer footing after striking heavy ground at Cranbourne.
“She’s never going to get to the heights of the other horse (Jessy Belle) but she’s level pegging with the rest of the field, she just needs firm ground,” Oliver said.
