Pinot will be striving to deliver champion trainer Gai Waterhouse a sought-after VRC Oaks at Flemington.
The blue blood filly by the Waterhouse-trained former champion juvenile Pierro out of an Australian Oaks winner Dizelle, is the $6.50 second favourite for Thursday’s $1 million Oaks at Flemington with Aloisia at $1.60.
Waterhouse and her co-trainer Adrian Bott have had many winners in Melbourne this spring including Pinot in the Oaks Trial and Ethereal Stakes at her past two starts.
Waterhouse has made it a mission to win the VRC Oaks for the first time this spring and Bott says Pinot is in fantastic shape.
“That’s certainly one race that Gai was really keen on and intent on trying to win this year,” Bott said.
“She’s never won a VRC Oaks so it’s certainly one that she’s been very keen to try to capture.”
Bott has no doubts Pinot will run out the Oaks distance of 2500m strongly.
“She’s bred to get it,” he said.
“She’s an out-and-out stayer and I’m really looking forward to seeing her at that trip. She’ll be one of the ones that will certainly really appreciate it.”
Pinot will be ridden by Stephen Baster who has combined with Waterhouse and Bott for seven Melbourne winners in the past month from 10 rides for the stable.
His tally includes three wins already over the opening two meetings of the Melbourne Cup carnival and a close second on Invincible Star in Saturday’s Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes.
“We hold this carnival in high regard and wanted to have a presence here and be able to make a statement over the carnival,” Bott said.
“We’ve been able to do that with the right horses, the right planning and the right preparations.”
