Harlow Gold is yet to win at stakes level
Harlow Gold has threatened to win a big race this season and her time to shine could come in the Group One Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill.
The VRC Oaks runner-up from the spring steps up to 2000m for the first time this campaign on Saturday after running home strongly for third and fourth respectively in the Group Three Vanity (1400m) and Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) in Melbourne.
Both those races were on dry ground at Flemington but it will be a different story at Rosehill with the heavy conditions one of the queries for co-trainer Tom Dabernig while the other is racing in the clockwise direction.
Harlow Gold is yet to win at stakes level but her big race performances include a fifth in last year’s Thousand Guineas and her second to bold frontrunner Lasqueti Spirit in the Group One VRC Oaks (2500m).
“She’s in great form and I think the 2000 metres is an ideal distance for her,” Dabernig said.
“She’s drawn to get a good run and she’s been good working on her Sydney leg at home but it will be her first time racing that way of going on Saturday.
“She’s never raced on heavy ground either although the breed generally like it and she’s performed on soft ground.”
“But if she handles the conditions she’s going like she’s ready to win.”
Harlow Gold is at $6.50 with Williamhill Aus and is on the fourth line of betting behind last-start Phar Lap Stakes winner Foxplay ($3.40), New Zealand filly La Bella Diosa ($5) and Kembla Grange Classic winner Dawn Wall ($5.50).
The in-form Regan Bayliss continues his association with Harlow Gold having ridden her in all nine starts for two wins and three placings.
The Vinery is also expected to provide another pointer to the Australian Oaks (2400m) two weeks later at Randwick for which Harlow Gold is in a group of fillies on the second line at $11.
VRC Oaks winner Lasqueti Spirit will bypass the Vinery to take on older horses in the weight-for-age BMW (2400m) on Saturday.
