A deflated Corey Brown admitted he would have to produce something special to get Mirjulisa Lass home from the outside alley in Saturday’s Group One AJC Australian Oaks.
“That’s the last thing I wanted with her,” Brown said after the Group One Vinery Stud Stakes winner came up with barrier 17 for the 2400m fillies classic at Randwick.
“She’s a get-back horse but I would have loved to have drawn inside of 12 but we’ve come up with the worst marble of all.
“So I’m going to have to do something special.”
AJC Australian Derby winner Shamrocker is the $2.60 TAB Sportsbet favourite to become the first filly since Research in 1989 to claim the Derby-Oaks double after she came up with barrier four with Glen Boss to ride.
VRC Oaks winner Brazilian Pulse drew the rails and remains second favourite at $4.20 in her bid for the VRC and AJC Oaks double.
Mirjulisa Lass, a dominant winner of the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) on April 2, is equal fourth favourite at $13 following her poor draw.
“Barrier 17, beautiful, just the barrier I wanted,” trainer Greg Hickman said with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek.
“The only consolation is if you look at the way she won at Newcastle over 1850 metres (last November), she gave them 20 lengths start that day. But it’s obviously a different kettle of fish in the Oaks.
“I’ll have to really sit down and look at it but we’re pretty lucky that we have got an A-grade jockey on and the horse is very well.
“You never know either, it just might pan out for the better but the sad thing about it is that we’ve drawn average and the chances have drawn well.”
Ever since that day at Newcastle on November 27 when Mirjulisa Lass jumped from barrier 15 in a Benchmark 60 event and came from last to win, Hickman has had his sights set on the Oaks.
After a let-up the daughter of Danasinga has won three of her five starts including her 2-1/2-length success in the Vinery when she was sent out as a $51 chance.
Hickman admitted the draw was far from ideal but can’t fault the filly and said they would just need luck in running now.
“But if they are going to be good horses they are going to have to be able to win from everywhere,” he said.
“I’ll study it between now and Saturday, Corey will do his homework too, and all I know is that his horse will be 110 per cent right on race day.
“If luck happens and we get a bit of luck they will know that she’s there.”
AAP TURF
