A meeting with Party Of Two’s owners late on Monday afternoon was to decide whether the Queensland filly will contest Saturday’s $200,000 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield.
The three-year-old daughter of Sidestep was one of only nine entries for the 1100-metre Group 3 event, with Recommendation, Ashford Street, Honey Girl and Mornington Glory her most highly-rated potential rivals.
Matthew Hoysted, who trains in partnership with Steve O’Dea, said the race shaped as an attractive option for a filly yet to win at Black Type level.
“Looking at the noms, you would be thinking it looks a nice race to be sending her down for,” he said before chatting to owners to confirm the trip.
“She’s a filly that’s got multiple Stakes placings to her name but still doesn’t have that elusive stakes win and just on the back of the end of our Winter Carnival there’s no other options up here for her.
“We thought it might be a nice opportunity to have a racefit horse come down before any of the better horses are stepping out have race fitness on our side.”
Due to the low numbers, Racing Victoria extended the Sir John Monash Stakes deadline until 10am Tuesday.
Hoysted said a decision on a start for Party For Two would be made before then and if they do commit to the trip south, it will not be the first time Party For Two has competed in Victoria, having finished second in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) early last year.
She also boasts two Listed minor placings, the most recent a last-start third in the Gai Waterhouse Classic (1200m), when beaten 1-1/2 lengths by Wollombi.
Hoysted said a small field could be a blessing for the filly who has regularly had to start from wide barriers.
“She hasn’t been getting much luck with the barrier draws, which has probably been a bit of a downfall for her,” he said.
“She’s a filly that’s got a high-cruising speed and just having to do that little bit of work and get softened up in her races and has been leaving her a touch vulnerable late.”
