Sydney filly Scarlet Dream has turned in the best trial of her career as she heads to Brisbane in a bid to make it third time lucky for trainer Mark Newnham in Oaks races.
Scarlet Dream will be having her first run since finishing second in the Group One Australian Oaks at Randwick when she runs in Saturday’s Group Two The Roses (2000m) at Doomben.
The Roses is the traditional lead-up to the Queensland Oaks on June 1 but this year Newnham will also use it to see how the filly handles the tricky Doomben course.
If she is not effective, Newnham will consider missing the Queensland Oaks (2200m) and waiting for the Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm.
“It is why I also entered her for the Derby at Eagle Farm over 2400 metres,” Newnham said.
“It is disappointing the Oaks isn’t on the bigger Eagle Farm track which would suit her.
“But provided she handles Doomben on Saturday she is Oaks bound. She could even back up in the Derby but that is down the track.”
Newnham is pleased with the way Scarlet Dream has progressed since the Randwick run.
“She won a trial a Warwick Farm two weeks ago and I think it was the best she had ever trialled,” he said.
“I took the blinkers off her for the trial but they will be back on for Saturday.”
Newnham, Gai Waterhouse’s ex-foreman, has had only two Oaks runners in his short but impressive career as a trainer in his own right.
“Greysful Glamour ran second in the Victorian Oaks and then Scarlet Dream was second at Randwick. Let’s hope it is a case of third time lucky in Queensland,” he said..
Jockey Blake Shinn will be chasing his third win in The Roses after taking the race on Arabian Gold (2014) and Bohemian Lily (2015).
