Trainer Thomas Carberry experienced a significant triumph in Ballarat when Strictly Business won the VRC Oaks at Flemington.
That victory twelve months ago marked Carberry’s most substantial success to date, and the Ballarat-based horseman is aiming to return for the same Group 1 race over 2500m at Flemington on November 5.
Carberry has Refuse To Curtsy being pointed towards the Oaks, and this filly is a half-sister to last year’s winner.
As part of her path to the Oaks, Refuse To Curtsy is scheduled to compete in the Beverly Rooftop Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on Wednesday. The filly also holds an entry for the Ethereal Stakes (2000m) this coming Saturday.
The weather, and more importantly, the track condition, will play a crucial role in deciding where Refuse To Curtsy races, as Carberry is looking for ‘sound ground’ for the filly.
“We won’t get to run off that handicap mark again if she was successful in the Ethereal, but that is probably getting ahead of ourselves,” Carberry said. “She’s in great form and has been working well.”
Refuse To Curtsy’s last start was a victory in a Kilmore 1600m maiden, and she now faces a benchmark 70 contest on Wednesday.
Carberry has adopted a different training strategy for Refuse To Curtsy compared to the one he used with Strictly Business last year.
Strictly Business began her campaign with a Ballarat maiden win on October 24, raced in the Wakeful Stakes eight days later, and then went on to capture the Oaks.
Refuse To Curtsy was second-up when victorious at Kilmore, and Carberry is planning for the filly to participate in the Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 31 as a lead-up to the Oaks.
“She’s from a good staying family and she’s showing all the right signs,” Carberry commented. “She won her maiden quite nicely and after this start, I think we’d go the way of the Wakeful.”
Carberry, who typically rides much of his own horse’s work, is currently sidelined with an injury but is enjoying the thrill of being a player in the Melbourne Spring Carnival with Strictly Business, who is also being aimed at the Melbourne Cup.
“A horse kicked me at the top of the femur and it’s a 12-week process and I’m about four weeks into it,” Carberry revealed. “It absolutely fantastic to be a part of the spring and to have a couple of horses that may be a part of it, we’re all enjoying the ride.”
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