Philia will be afforded her chance to give local trainer David Vandyke his second win in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) in four years.
The daughter of All Too Hard was a determined winner of the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday, notching up her fourth win from six starts.
Stepping beyond a mile for the first time and heavily backed into a $3.70 second elect, Philia led throughout under Kerrin McEvoy, finding enough in reserve to deny a fast-finishing Jenni’s Meadow ($31) by half a length, with Movin Out ($21) boxing on well for third.
While Vandyke admitted the 2000m was an unknown heading into The Roses, he never doubted Philia’s toughness.
“I knew she was 100% going into today,” Vandyke said.
“The 2000 (metres) was a question mark. Kerrin made it a staying test. He was taken on two or three times and he didn’t care. He just wanted to hold the front.”
“When I saw her going past the post the first time he was off the bit and letting her roll. She had to sprint a few times during the race and yet she still had the audacity to kick at the top of the straight and hold off the late charge.”
Vandyke confirmed that Philia will front up in two weeks’ time for the Oaks having won the race with Gypsy Goddess in 2022.
“Into the Oaks, when she’s got that amazing racing pattern where she can get taken on and absorb pressure, she loves it.
“That was a month between runs so now I’ve got that nice two weeks. Hard run today, 2200 (metres), bring on the Oaks.”
Vandyke has had plenty of success with the progeny of All Too Hard, none more notable than star miler Alligator Blood, but he’s confident Philia has the constitution to run out the 2200m of the Oaks trip.
“She’s a half to Duais who is a multiple group one winner and won over 2400 (metres). She goes right back to one of the best families in the world. It is an impeccable pedigree and, All Too Hard, I love the stallion.”
“She’s just full of guts and wants to do it.”
Philia has firmed into a $3 favourite for the Queensland Oaks while Benagil, who disappointed when 10th as a $3.50 favourite in The Roses, has drifted to $5.
