Panipique earned a crack at another Group One race when she impressively won the MSS Security Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
The Testa Rossa filly, who won the Quezette Stakes at Caulfield last August, landed her second Listed victory in the 1100m straight event.
But leading tainer Peter Moody was still ruing her bad draw when she ran ninth from barrier 15 to Eagle Falls in the Oakleigh Plate.
“Her run in the Oakleigh Plate was phenomenal, it was just a tragedy that she drew wide that day,” he said.
“Her second-up form is super, she had a victory over the (Golden) Slipper winner (Crystal Lily) last time around, so she’s in for a good preparation I think.
Panipique now heads to Adelaide for the $350,000 Sportingbet Classic (1200m) – a Group One race for fillies and mares – at Morphettville on March 26.
Ridden by Michael Walker, Panipique ($4.80) settled ninth but burst through when the run came to win by 1-1/2 lengths from That’s Not It ($26) with Pontiana ($10) three-quarters of a length away third.
Walker will maintain his association with the filly in Adelaide because Moody’s stable rider Luke Nolen is likely to be in Sydney to ride at the Rosehill Guineas meeting.
“I thought he was in a bit of trouble mid-race but he extricated himself and she got a chance to finish off well,” Moody said.
Walker also said the filly would have finished closer in the Oakleigh Plate, given a decent barrier draw in the Group One sprint.
“Everyone thought it was out of her depth, but if she’d drawn inside barrier seven I think she could have run first five,” he said.
“I’m not saying she would have won it, but she could have weighed in.
“She could have won by a lot more today. She got to the front and pulled up.
“Horses that have a little bit of ability tend to do it easy, they do pull up. It was a good effort.”
AAP TURF
