Caulfield trainer Stuart Webb is considering paying a late entry fee for filly Ana Royale to run in the Queensland Derby.
Connections have until 9am on Wednesday morning to decide whether to pay $18,000 to put the filly in Saturday’s 2200m Group One Queensland Derby at Doomben.
Ana Royale was held up behind tiring horses and finished an unlucky eighth behind Egg Tart in the Group One Queensland Oaks at Doomben (2200m) on Saturday.
Webb said Ana Royale, who had won her previous start over 2500m at Morphettville on May 20, had come through Saturday’s run in terrific order.
“She had an easy run and I am contemplating paying a late entry fee and backing her up next Saturday,” Webb told Melbourne radio RSN927.
“We saw at the sales last week how much fillies and mares are worth with black-type next to their name.
“So while $18,000 might seem a fair bit, if it happened to pay off then it ends up being quite cheap for what you can get out of it.”
Webb said all the signs were so far bright for Ana Royale to run again on Saturday.
He said the filly would have a trot and canter on Tuesday while he would continue to monitor her appetite and general well-being and soundness in the lead-up to Wednesday’s acceptance time.
“If she is showing me any signs at all that any of that wasn’t right she would be straight in the paddock because I think we’ve got a nice filly going forward,” Webb said.
“If she’s bouncing around the place and eating all her feed, I think we’ll be running.”
Mark Zahra will again take the ride if Ana Royale lines up on Saturday.
