Vezalay was included in the 2016 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes nominations that were released yesterday, but co-trainer Troy Corstens has revealed that the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) a week later is another option for the talented mare.
Vezalay will return to the races in either the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes or the Oakleigh Plate. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Vezalay was included in the nominations for a number of different races that will be held at Flemington on Saturday, but Corstens told RSN this morning that the Shamardal mare will either take on the likes of Exosphere and Chautauqua in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) on Saturday or be saved for the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield on February 27.
“We are going to sit down with Brad tomorrow morning and we will have a good chat and decide where we want to go and if we want to accept,” Corstens said.
“If we do accept we will pull her blood on Thursday and make sure that everything is spot on going into that.
“I don’t know, but I would say Chautauqua is going to run and it looks like a cracking field.
“If she doesn’t run Saturday in the Lightning we are going to run her in the Oakleigh Plate.
“She is very good around the 1100 at Caulfield, so we would probably lead towards the bend with her.
“If there is only a really small field on Saturday or something like that then we will definitely be having a look at it.”
Vezalay produced a string of consistent performances during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival and she was sent to the spelling paddock after she took out the Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Caulfield Cup Day.
The four-year-old has not been seen at the official trials, but has contested two jump outs and Corstens is happy with the physical condition of Vezalay ahead of her return to racing in either the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes or the Oakleigh Plate.
“We are very happy with her,” Corstens said.
“She has really been great in her trials – she had one trial around a bend and one trial down the straight as well.
“She only ran third, but we have the blinkers up her sleeve which we didn’t put on.”
Vezalay is currently available at 2016 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes odds of $41 with Ladbrokes, while Exosphere ($2.30) is favourite from Chautauqua ($2.80), Delectation ($7), Terravista ($8), Japonisme ($10), Keen Array ($12), Ball Of Muscle ($15), Kinglike ($15), Counterattack ($19), Éclair Choice ($31) and Headwater ($31).
