Trainer Liam Birchley will continue to aim O’Reilly Cyrus at the Group One Golden Rose despite her Eagle Farm defeat.
O’Reilly Cyrus came from last in the middle stages to be a close up third in a 1200m-race on Saturday, one of four thirds Birchley had on the Eagle Farm program.
The filly took her prize money to $33,540 which will put her on the border of a start in the Golden Rose (1400m) on September 10.
Birchley said he would push on with plans to run O’Reilly Cyrus in the Golden Rose or another Sydney spring race.
“She ticks a few boxes. I know she is back in form, she will run the 1400 metres and handles a wet track. Now all I have to do is get her in the race,” Birchley said.
Jockey Paul Hammersley, who rode O’Reilly Cyrus, also believes the filly is up to top class in the spring.
“It was a good run because I had to go back to last because of her bad barrier. She ran home very well,” Hammersley said.
“I would like to see her from a good barrier and over a bit further.”
It was a mixed day for Birchley who had one winner along with the four minor placings.
The 2015 Karaka Million winner Hardline showed he was getting back to his best with his third in the Benchmark 85 while another promising horse, Deconstructed, also ran a good third.
Another stablemate, Desert General, was yet another third after being pushed back into the inside running rail.
There was an irony in consistent galloper Beckham winning the Open Handicap (1400m).
“Beckham drew the outside barrier while Hardline and Deconstructed drew barrier one and Desert General had barrier two,” Birchley said.
“Usually you want inside barriers but at Eagle Farm at the moment they are a worry because you get stuck on the fence which isn’t the best going.”
