Nick Olive single minded in Millie Fox Stakes 2017

It’s taken longer than expected to get Single Gaze back to the races following a mishap in the Australian Oaks but her trainer Nick Olive believes it has been worth the wait.

Single Gaze will make her return as topweight in Saturday’s Group Two Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill.

The winner of the Group One Vinery Stud Stakes, Single Gaze came down in the Oaks in April and although she came through relatively unscathed compared to her jockey Kathy O’Hara, she hasn’t raced since.

O’Hara was off for almost three months after she punctured a lung and underwent surgery on her sternoclavicular joint while Single Gaze had a few lacerations.

Oliver was preparing her for a spring campaign but pulled the pin when instinct told him she just wasn’t herself.

“All the vet tests were clear but I wasn’t 100 per cent happy with her,” Olive said.

“There was nothing obvious and we could have gone on but I think it was the right decision to miss the spring.

“She looks fantastic now and I couldn’t be happier with her.

“She hasn’t taken a backward step and her trials have been good.

“Kathy rode her and she said she had improved as well so I’m looking forward to Saturday.”

Single Gaze won a barrier trial at her home track at Canberra in January and ran second in another earlier this month to local sprint star, Group One performed Fell Swoop.

Olive has a tentative autumn plan for Single Gaze as long as she does well on Saturday, although he is not confident she can win.

“As a Group One winner she has that weight penalty and has to carry 58 (kg) he said.

“We’ll play things as they go but I’m hoping she can go to the Coolmore Classic after this.

“And the Doncaster is also there if she is going welll.”

In an open market, Single Gaze is at $12 with Euro Angel the $6 favourite with the TAB.

Leading trainer Chris Waller has French Emotion and Tsaritsa in his bid to win the race for the fifth time in six years.

Red Tracer won the first of three in 2012 while Catkins won in 2015. First Seal was last year’s winner over the Waller-trained Telepathic.

 

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au

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