Renaissance Woman rocketed the head of VRC Oaks betting with a tough win in Saturday’s $200,000 Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.
The Bjorn Baker-trained filly was forced to come from near-last and recover from a bumping duel with runner-up Foxy Cleopatra at the top of the straight, before registering the second win of her six-start career.
TAB expects it is form that will come to the fore in the 2500-metre Group 1 VRC Oaks at Flemington on November 3, installing Renaissance Woman and Foxy Cleopatra joint $6 favourites with So Dazzling just minutes after their gripping stoush.
The performance was confirmation to winning jockey Josh Parr that the daughter of Reliable Man had mad the development required to be a force in feature fillies staying races.
“The physical development she has made has been great,” Parr said.
“I trialled her at Rosehill (last preparation) and then rode her in a race at Canterbury, and I was quite upbeat about the feel that she gave me.
“But she was just screaming out for time at that particular moment and she’s got that now, got down here in the spring and she’s really furnished into a lovely filly.”
Renaissance Woman, who started $5 second favourite, had three-quarters-of-a-length to spare over $4.80 favourite Foxy Cleopatra on the line in the Ethereal Stakes with Pavitra ($6), who ran the field along at a solid tempo, boxing on well for third, 1-3/4 lengths further back.
“I was confident in my pursuit of catching the lead group, I had a lot of horse, but I had to take my time,” Parr said.
“She needed my help around Caulfield the first time, so I had to assure her around the bend. Foxy Cleopatra had been a total nuisance but we took care of them and we were victorious, which is great.”
Renaissance Woman has now earnt a shot at becoming the third horse to complete the Ethereal Stakes/VRC Oaks double, behind Set Square (2014) and Piot (2017).
