Star filly Brazilian Pulse, who resumes in Saturday’s Group Two Kewney Stakes at Flemington, remains a chance to complete the VRC Oaks – AJC Australian Oaks double.
Trainer Mike Moroney said he was still considering fast-tracking the VRC Oaks winner to the Sydney Classic on April 16 but the Doncaster Mile (1600m) was also an option on the same day.
Brazilian Pulse resumes at Flemington on Saturday with plans to complete the VRC Oaks - AJC Australian Derby double - Photo by Steve Hart
He said Brazilian Pulse would be limited to a maximum of five autumn starts and that she would reach the 2400m Oaks on her third run.
“It a decision we have got to make after this race,” Moroney said.
“She could go to the Doncaster Mile or we could throw her in the deep end over 2000 metres in the Rosehill Guineas,” Moroney said.
“The Oaks is a possibility but she would have go through the Rosehill Guineas or the Storm Queen (Vinery Stud Stakes).”
The Rosehill Guineas is on March 26 and the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill a week later.
The winner of four of her six starts, Brazilian Pulse improved as she stepped up in distance in the spring.
After being placed in both the Group Two Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) and Group One Thousand Guineas (1600m) she landed the Group Two Wakeful Stakes (2000m) and Group One VRC Oaks (2500m).
Moroney said it was by design that Brazilian Pulse was having a delayed start to the autumn in the Kewney.
“It is the logical race for her being 1400 metres for her first-up and run at set weights (55.5kg),” Moroney said.
The daughter of Captain Rio would have carried 58.5kg had she started two weeks ago in the Armanasco Stakes (1400m) which is a traditional lead-up to the Kewney.
Brazilian Pulse is $4.80 favourite with TAB Sportsbet to emulate Faint Perfume who last year won the Kewney first-up after winning the VRC Oaks.
Faint Perfume went on to finish second to Once Were Wild in last year’s AJC Australian Oaks.
Should Brazilian Pulse go one better she would be the 14th filly in the post-war era to win the VRC Oaks-AJC Australian Oaks double.
Such a feat would surely delight Moroney but he is treating the autumn as a precursor to the richer races later in the year.
“We are mainly interested in the spring with her,” he said.
Flamboyant owner John O’Neill bought into Brazilian Pulse last spring and is also part-owner of the Lee Freedman-trained Ain’tnofallenstar who is equal second favourite for the Kewney at $6.50 with Peter Moody’s Do Ra Mi.
AAP TURF
