An overseas campaign goes on the line for star sprinting mare Viddora when she resumes in the Group One Oakleigh Plate on her home track at Caulfield.
Trainer Lloyd Kennewell has had Saturday’s 1100m sprint as a first-up target for his stable star since she returned from a break after her Winterbottom Stakes failure in early December.
“I think everyone that’s involved with the stable knows that she’s going extremely well,” Kennewell said.
A strong performance in the 2019 Oakleigh Plate from the dual Group One winner would clinch a trip to Dubai for the Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) at Meydan on March 30.
“We’re under no illusions. She is an older mare and if she doesn’t come up in the Oakleigh Plate she will stay in Australia and do the final part of her racing before she goes to stud,” Kennewell said.
“But if she runs how I think she will first-up, because she is a first-up specialist, she will be on the plane in a few weeks to Dubai.”
Should Viddora go overseas, Kennewell has indicated other international targets could follow as part of her final racing campaign.
“She’s been invited to a few places already and there’s been interim chats with a couple of other places,” Kennewell said.
“We’ve got to get through the Oakleigh Plate first before we start making those decisions.
“We know the Dubai race is very much on the radar. So if that comes through OK and she heads to Dubai, then you’ll know more about the other two places that are on offer.”
Viddora has had a couple of jump-outs at Caulfield in the past two weeks as part of her preparation for the Oakleigh Plate.
“She’s ticking every box that we want. She looks super and she’s in really good order,” Kennewell said.
“This is the race that she’s been set for first-up.”
Viddora’s two Group One wins have been the 2017 Winterbottom (1200m) in Perth and the Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley last spring.
