Two Dato Tan Chin Nam contenders took advantage of a trip to Moonee Valley to have a gallop before the Group Two contest.
Miss Rose De Lago and Awesome Rock went to the track on Tuesday to prepare for Saturday’s 1600m weight-for-age contest.
Miss Rose De Lago galloped solo under race rider Damien Oliver, while Awesome Rock had race partner Stephen Baster aboard in a workout with Mr Individual.
Miss Rose De Lago trainer Danny O’Brien said the mare had galloped at the track in the lead-up to previous races there, with good results.
“She’s been here a couple of times to gallop before races and enjoys it,” O’Brien said.
Miss Rose De Lago had a tough first-up victory in the PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield, but O’Brien said three weeks between runs was ideal.
“We didn’t do much with her for a week or so after the race, but she’s a big, strong mare that cops work and racing really well,” O’Brien said.
“She’ll improve coming into Saturday and 1600 metres second-up is perfect.”
O’Brien expects a tough contest on Saturday.
He said the Lawrence Stakes was the starting point for a number of spring contenders and the fields became stronger with every passing week.
Oliver said Miss Rose De Lago appears to be holding her form and was happy with her workout on Tuesday.
Awesome Rock finished a first-up 10th behind Miss Rose De Lago at Caulfield on August 13 and Troy Corstens, who trains in partnership with his father Leon, said the step up in distance to 1600m was ideal.
Corstens expects good pace in Saturday’s race in what might prove a spring-defining race for the five-year-old.
“I think it’s imperative that he gets to the outside and he’ll hit the line a bit better,” Corstens said.
“After Saturday we’ll decide whether we stay on the Group One weight-for-age path or we find something a touch easier as we’re very mindful that he is a stallion and it would be nice to win one of those Group One’s.
“He’s won one before although his record doesn’t say it, so we’ve got to try and win one again.”
