Oaks hopeful Tavi Bay has arrived in Queensland and her trainer believes the filly is still on an upward spiral heading towards her Group One target.
Tavi Bay was flown from Melbourne on Thursday night to prepare for Saturday week’s Group One Queensland Oaks after booking her trip with a 2000m-win at Caulfield.
Tavi Bay
She joins stablemate Precious Gem in Queensland with the latter in the catalogue for the broodmare sale at the Gold Coast on June 1.
Precious Gem holds an entry for the Group One Stradbroke Handicap on June 11 and Dwyer is keeping her up to the mark in case her new owners choose to keep her racing.
The Dwyer-trained Sonntag won the 2014 Queensland Derby after claiming the corresponding race at Caulfield won by Tavi Bay.
The Caulfield trainer was impressed by the closing stages of Tavi Bay’s win.
“She was going to run second or third at the 200 metre mark and was going to run second or third at the 50,” Dwyer said.
“It was only really the last 20 metres that she really attacked the line and showed a good will to win, and obviously good staying ability.
“The extra distance in the Oaks is going to be no dramas with her and she’s clearly on the up.”
Precious Gem was sent to Queensland after her last-start Group One Robert Sangster Stakes win in Adelaide on May 7 and spent 10 days working on a water walker.
Dwyer was considering giving her a barrier trial on Tuesday but will instead gallop her on the course proper at the Gold Coast.
“She’ll then go to the sales and be ready to race wherever the new owners want to go with her after that,” Dwyer said.
Dwyer is hoping whoever buys the mare keeps her with him to continue racing with the Tatt’s Tiara also a race he has in mind.
