Trainer partnership Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are content to take on the colts with Joely in a Stakes race at Flemington as they pursue victory in the VRC Oaks.
Joely is one of two fillies set to feature in the Group 2 Drummond Golf Vase (2040m) this Saturday, representing the filly’s final outing before her run in the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 5.
The last filly to win the Vase was Jameka in 2015, who then went on to claim the Oaks at her next start.
The more traditional route to the Oaks is through the Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday week, but Busuttin stated the Vase was a better fit for the filly’s journey to the Group 1 contest next month.
Busuttin mentioned that the team had elected to bypass the Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield last Saturday with this particular race in mind.
“She was nominated for the Ethereal, but the aim is the Oaks, and I just thought with 12 days to the Oaks, it fits in nicely,” Busuttin commented.
“I also thought Flemington suited her better than Caulfield and she’s worked up well (with Blind Raise at Flemington on Tuesday) and she will go into the race well.”
Joely has competed in only three starts, winning on debut over 1400m at Echuca in August before finishing sixth at the same distance in the Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield on September 19.
In her most recent start, Joely finished second from the back half of the field, albeit six lengths behind Saintly Dancer, in the Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on October 3.
Saintly Dancer subsequently confirmed the strength of that performance by winning the Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield last Saturday, and importantly, Craig Williams will be aboard the filly again on Saturday.
“Our filly is an out-and-out 2000-metre, mile-and-a-half filly and she was strong through the line last time,” Busuttin observed.
“The form line is very good and it should suit her.”
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