Daisies remains on track for the Group 1 Australasian Oaks despite her defeat as a short-priced favourite in Saturday’s Port Adelaide Guineas.
The daughter of Sebring was unable to replicate the form that carried her to a second career Group 3 win in the Alexandra Stakes (1600m) when third, beaten 4.6 lengths by Harleymoven, in Saturday’s 1800m Listed event.
Co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr did not feel as though the race was run to suit, but conceded she was not up to her best and was happy to report that she had come through the race without any issues.
“She might have been a little bit flat from the travel, first time travelling, and it was a bit of a farcically-run race but still she was below par,” Kent said.
“She’s back (in Victoria), she’s good, she’s sound and we’ve got three weeks into the Group 1 and we’ll be there in good order, we hope.”
The 2000m Australasian Oaks, for which Daisies is a $6 chance in TAB’s market that is headed by Douceur, will be run at Morphettville on April 30.
Kent Jnr, who trains in partnership with Mick Price, had runners in three states on Saturday including several Group 1 runners at Randwick.
I’m Thunderstruck is off to the spelling paddock after his sixth placing in the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), while a Queensland campaign is being considered for Annavisto, who was runner-up in the Queen Of The Turf (1600m).
“We’re working out a program to see if we might push on with her into Brisbane, because we’ve got time to give her a fresh in between.”
The daughter of Reliable Man’s past four wins have all been at 1400m, the distance of the final Group 1 race of the season – the $700,000 Tatt’s Tiara – which will be run at Eagle Farm on June 25.
