An 1800-metre three-year-old race at Randwick is set to have a bearing on the upcoming Classic races in Queensland with the majority of runners holding a nomination for either the Oaks or Derby.
Seventeen horses, four of them emergencies, have been accepted for Saturday’s Wilson Asset Management Handicap and only Invincible Spy, Ravello, Physicist and Magicon aren’t entered for either of the blue ribands.
Among those vying for a road trip to Brisbane is improving filly Heaven Bound, who will be looking to make it a hat-trick of wins after back-to-back victories over similar journeys at Newcastle and Hawkesbury.
Prior to that, trainer Joe Pride held her in high enough esteem to test her in the Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) but she struggled in the heavy ground and finished midfield.
“It has taken a while, she has been a real work in progress, but she is putting it together now,” Pride said.
“She is a big, tough thing and Saturday is a good test for her.
“She will roll forward from a wide barrier and we’ll see if we can make it a bit of a staying contest.”
Heaven Bound holds an entry for the Queensland Oaks (2200m) a fortnight from Saturday and Pride confirmed that race was in their sights if she performed at Randwick.
“These three-year-olds, most of them struggle when they get to four in the spring unless they are top shelf,” Pride said.
“That opportunity to run in a Group One at this age, when you have been kind to them and let them mature, is very tempting.”
Reece Jones has the mount on Heaven Bound, who has drawn barrier 16.
Doomben will host a more traditional Queensland Oaks lead-up on Saturday when a field of 15 fillies lines up in The Roses (2000m), headed by Scarlet Oak and Amazonian Lass who are on the second and third lines of Classic markets respectively.
Private Legacy, trained by Pride’s Warwick Farm neighbour Greg Hickman, is also prominent in Oaks betting and while she has a tough draw in barrier 16 on Saturday, Hickman expects the Australasian Oaks runner-up to acquit herself well.
“She can win from there, she gets back anyway,” Hickman said.
“She was very good in Adelaide and surprisingly enough, she has gone from Sydney to Adelaide and now Brisbane and just kept on improving.
“I’m really happy with her.”
