Daisies will head straight into the Group 1 Kennedy Oaks after breaking through for her maiden victory at Caulfield.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr – trained filly took out the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) on Saturday to book her place in the VRC Kennedy Oaks over 2500m at Flemington on November 4.
Ridden by Damian Lane, Daisies ($10) recorded a 1-¾ lengths win from Glint Of Hope ($12) with Biscayne Bay ($15) a further 1-¼ lengths away third.
Price praised Lane for his initiative in allowing the filly to stride to the front running down the hill after being caught three wide early in the race.
“I say it all the time in Melbourne, they want to lead, stack up and run 13, 13, 13 and all it does is create muddling, crap run races,” Price said.
“He (Lane) was smart enough to see how stupidly slow they were going and seized the race, albiet that he was deep early.
“I thought it was a big tick for D Lane.”
Price said Daisies should handle the rise in trip to the Oaks distance, describing her as a beautifully big staying filly.
“I think there is a bit of Zabeel in there and a mix of pedigree, but she is a beautifully big, clean-winded staying filly and I think she’ll go into the Oaks from here,” Price said.
“We always wanted to go to 2000 metres which is why we didn’t run her in the Thousand Guineas.
“I thought she’s still learning, she’s not the quickest out of the gates but I did ask Damian ‘get a man up’, put her nose in the ‘v’ and see if we can get a little bit tactical.
“I didn’t want to be out the back running home with a promising filly all the time.
“I suppose into the Oaks from here.”
