The VRC Oaks had not been a prominent race on the agenda for champion trainer Chris Waller.
It was only in the previous year that Waller presented his first contender in the Classic, a race initiated in 1861, coinciding with the inaugural running of the Melbourne Cup.
This prestigious race for three-year-old fillies is contested over a challenging 2500 metres and typically occurs early in the season for the fillies.
Last year, Waller prepared The Pearls to achieve a second-place finish behind Strictly Business, with the filly not having competed on the racetrack since.
Waller is now preparing to have two runners in this year’s Group 1 race at Flemington on Thursday week, but prior to that, the pair will compete in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
The Wakeful Stakes is considered the traditional lead-up event to the Oaks, and Waller has three fillies nominated – De Armas, Your Colour, and Tharwa.
It is the latter two, Your Colour and Tharwa, that Waller intends to target the Oaks with.
“Your Colour ran second last start, and Tharwa ran fourth in the same race,” Waller stated. “I can’t split them and if anything, Tharwa is one to watch.”
“They both drew wide at Caulfield and Tharwa had to come around them and made a lot of ground but was still strong on the line. They’re two exciting fillies heading towards an Oaks while De Armas, she’s already Group 1 placed, but we might pull up after Saturday.”
Waller explained that The Pearls, along with Your Colour and Tharwa, were the appropriate types of fillies to be aimed at the Oaks.
“We brought the right horse for it,” Waller commented on finally having his first Oaks runner last year. “These two fillies are well prepared and we’re not rushing them into the race.”
“They’ve had the run at 2000 metres in the Ethereal last start, and I think that’s important, plus they have the pedigrees to suggest they can get 2500 metres on Oaks Day.”
Consider placing a bet on the VRC Oaks using Australian betting sites.