Trainer Chris Waller has scratched Ballet Suite from the 2015 The Roses that will be held at Doomben tomorrow and the talented filly will now go into the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) next weekend without another lead-up run.
Ballet Suite has been withdrawn from the 2015 edition of The Roses. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Ballet Suite opened as a clear favourite in The Roses betting markets following her impressive victory in the Listed Princess Stakes (2000m) at Doomben on May 9, but Waller revealed earlier in the week that he did not want to flatten the filly for the Queensland Oaks at Doomben on May 30 and this morning he decided to take her out of The Roses field.
“She looks the best horse in the race off the exposed form and unless there are some horses there that improve they will struggle to beat her,” Waller said.
“It is a Group 2 race, but will running her this Saturday flatten her for the following week?
“That is my only question and I will be giving plenty of thought to whether she runs or we wait for the Oaks.”
While Ballet Suite will definitely not take her place in The Roses, she could still make an appearance at the Doomben races tomorrow and Waller is looking into giving her an exhibition gallop between races.
Ballet Suite joined the Waller stable at the end of 2014 after starting her racing career under the care of Mark Kavanagh and she made her debut for her new stable with a victory in the Colin Glover Handicap (1400m) at Royal Randwick on February 18 and she made it two from two with a win in the Place Multi Handicap (1600m) at the same venue on March 11.
The High Chaparral filly made her Group 1 debut in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 28 and she hit the line strongly to finish fourth, but she was not given the best ride by Ryan Moore in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick on April 11 and she could finish no better than eighth, but she was able to return to winning form in the Princess Stakes.
New Zealand Oaks runner-up Platinum Witness is now available at 2015 The Roses odds of $2.50 and she is now a clear favourite from Gai Waterhouse-trained Bohemian Lily ($3.50), Sue Walsh-trained Exquisite Jewel ($7), Toowoomba-based Col ‘N’ Lil ($15) and Mick Price-trained Yulong Baby ($15).
