Jockey James McDonald will be looking to get some early cover on Ambience after the filly drew a wide barrier in the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on Thursday.
Ambience is backing up in the Crown Oaks after winning the Wakeful Stakes at Flemington last Saturday. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
McDonald was able to give Ambience the run of the race on the fence after jumping from barrier three in the Group 2 $300,000 Mumm Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington last Saturday before going on to score a decisive win.
But on Thursday the top hoop will have to work overcome to scheme up a plan to get the John O’Shea trained filly into a trailing position from barrier ten before they hit the turn out of the straight.
O’Shea is happy with the way Ambience has settled into Melbourne as she showed with an improved performance at her second run at the anti-clockwise way of racing to win the Wakeful Stakes.
The lightly race Street Cry filly kicked off her career at Wyong in New South Wales and quickly showed her above average ability at her third race start with a win in the Listed $100,000 TAB Dulcify Quality (1600m) at Randwick on October 3.
O’Shea then sent her to Melbourne and she ran third to Dawnie Perfect in the Group 3 $150,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 17.
“She has a lovely turn-of-foot for a staying filly,” O’Shea said.
“It just didn’t go right for her at Caulfield, but she had given indications at home that she had settled in nicely and got on her right leg.”
The David Hayes and Tom Dabernig trained Sacred Eye has also drawn out wide, coming up with barrier nine in the twelve horse field.
The Lindsay Park Team have called on the services of top class English jockey Ryan Moore to ride Scared Eye who threw herself into Crown Oaks calculations with a convincing win over the colts and geldings in the Group 3 $500,000 Ladbrokes Caulfield Classic (2000m) at Caulfield on October 17.
The Ciaron Maher trained Jameka also looks to be one of the main chances after a first class performance to win the Group 2 $200,000 Dilmah Exceptional Teas Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24, also beating the boys and subsequent Victoria Derby winner Tarzino who finished third.
Jameka has drawn barrier eight with Damien Oliver retaining the mount on Thursday.
Honesta has been racing consistently with three seconds from her last three starts, her latest behind Dawnie Perfect in the Ethereal Stakes.
The John Thompson trained filly has drawn the outside gate with Craig Williams in the saddle again.
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Veteran jockey Jim Cassidy will be keen to pick up another Group 1 trophy before he retires in the near future and will be aboard Dawnie Perfect (barrier 2) in the Crown Oaks for Clarry Conners.
Pasadena Girl has just missed the placings at her last two starts and Hugh Bowman is sticking with her after they finished fourth to Jameka at Moonee Valley.
The Peter Moody trained filly has drawn midfield at barrier five and the big spaces at Flemington will suit her.
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