Oliver chooses Miss Rose De Lago in P.B. Lawrence Stakes

Damien Oliver has chosen to ride Miss Rose De Lago over Group 1 winner Sauvito in the Group 2 $200,000 Back To Caulfield P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Damien Oliver will ride Miss Rose De Lago, above, in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Damien Oliver will ride Miss Rose De Lago, above, in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Melbourne Cup winning jockey has partnered the Danny O’Brien trained Miss Rose De Lago for a fourth in the Group 3 $150,000 Schweppervescence Trophy (1600m) at Flemington during the 2016 Melbourne Autumn Carnival.

Oliver preferred to ride the six year old mare over Sauvito who he has ridden on ten occasions for five wins including a win in the 2015 Group 1 $400,000 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Oliver has ridden both mares in jump outs in the lead up to their 2016 Spring Carnival debuts and elected to stick with Miss Rose De Lago after she impressed the premiership winning jockey at Flemington on July 29.

In the jump out Oliver actually rode Suavito but said that Miss Rose De Lago trialled a bit better in the same heat which swayed his decision to ride the Encosta De Lago mare in the weight for age P.B. Lawrence Stakes.

“They trialled against each other, I actually rode Sauvito and I rode Miss Rose De Lago in her first trial, and she trialled well her first trial and they trialled against each other in their second,” Oliver told racing.com.

“Miss Rose De Lago trialled well and Suavito, she was worse than what she normally trials, well actually worse than she normally does, she can trial poorly, I had to go with Miss Rose De Lago from the trials.”

“That is not to say Suavito won’t come out and run well, she has done it in the past I just chose to go with Miss Rose De Lago.”

Miss Rose De Lago was a winner two starts back for James McDonald in the Group 2 $200,000 Sunline Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on March 24 but hasn’t started since running ninth to Azkadellia in the Group 1 $1m The Coolmore Legacy Stakes (Queen Of The Turf Stakes) (1600m) at Randwick on April 9, the second day of ‘The Championships’ during the 2016 Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Miss Rose De Lago has won first up in the past and Oliver is certain that she is ready to perform well fresh in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes.

“She is quite forward, she is a mare that likes to be up on the speed and the race will be strongly run with The Cleaner and Lord Of The Sky in it, she is ready to run well.” Oliver said.

Oliver was aboard Lord Of The Sky last start for an all the way win in the Group 3 $150,000 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on July 30 but Mark Zahra has the mount this week on the Robbie Laing trained six year old.

The Darren Weir trained Mahuta heads the Ladbrokes.com.au market order for the P.B. Lawrence Stakes at $4.20 ahead of Sauvtio at $5, Lord Of The Sky at $5.50 and Miss Rose De Lago at $7.50.

P.B. Lawrence Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.20 Mahuta, $5 Suavito, $5.50 Lord Of The Sky, $7.50 Miss Rose De Lago, $9 The Cleaner, $13 Jameka, $20 Jacquinot Bay, Awesome Rock, $26 Set Square, Smokin’ Joey, Entirely Platinum, $41 Tall Ship, $61 Magnapal, $71 Berisha.

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.