An extra week’s work will give smart filly Roomooz the edge when she lines up in the $120,000 Johnnie Walker Plate (1200m) at The Valley on Saturday.

Luke Currie, above, will ride Roomooz for the first time in the Johnnie Walker Plate at The Valley. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Luke Currie, above, will ride Roomooz for the first time in the Johnnie Walker Plate at The Valley. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Trainer Tony McEvoy said that Roomooz was ready to race last week in the Group 3 $150,000 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield but he decided to wait another week and avoid a clash the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes winner Catchy.

“She’s physically got better. She’s got a lot of stretch about her now,” McEvoy told racing.com on Tuesday.

“She’s in between and coming in her coat.

“I was planning on running her in the Quezette, but when Catchy was going there, I thought, ‘Do we need to?’

“I’m so pleased we waited the extra week. The filly’s appreciated it.”

“She’s ready to go.”

McEvoy took Roomooz to The Valley on Tuesday morning for a solid hit out and was happy with what the Fastnet Rock filly produced on the track.

“She looked very sharp to me this morning (Tuesday), and you’ll see a good filly on Saturday,” McEvoy said.

Roomooz has only been to the races on three occasions and was a debut winner in a Morphettville two year old Plate on January 7 before running fourth to Catchy in the Group 2 $200,000 Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Prelude (F) (1100m) at Caulfield on February 11.

That was enough to get Roomooz a spot in the Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield a fortnight later but the filly never threatened to finish eighth to the Lindsay Park trained Catchy.

Luke Currie will be having his first ride on Roomooz who has drawn barrier five in the eight horse Johnnie Walker Plate field.

A very tight market order at Ladbrokes.com.au has Roomooz marked at $6.50 for the Johnnie Walker Plate with Tulip listed as the $3.10 favourite just ahead of Limestone at $4, Madeenaty at $4.50 and Garrard at $5.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.