Group 1 winning filly Nakeeta Jane heads up trainer Mark Newnham’s three nominations for the 2019 Group 1 $500,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Nakeeta Jane, above in green and purple colours, is among the nominations for the 2019 Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Nakeeta Jane, above in green and purple colours, is among the nominations for the 2019 Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Nakeeta Jane showed her class with a last stride victory in the Group 1 $500,000 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on March 2 before finishing third to The Autumn Sun in the Group 1 $1m Mostyn Copper Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick a week later.

Newnham has also included Scarlet Dream and Greysful Glamour among the nineteen nominations for the Vinery Stud Stakes for the three year old fillies.

Scarlet Dream is coming off a handy third to Pohutukawa in the Group 3 $200,000 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) at Kembla Grange on March 15 while Greysful Glamour finished down the track in the same race in tenth spot.

Nakeeta Jane is stepping up to the 2000m of the Vinery Stud Stakes for the first time and is naturally the Group 1 winner in the stable pick.

“I’m happy with the way they are all going,” Newnham told AAP.

“Nakeeta Jane naturally has the Group One form on the board and everything indicates she will enjoy getting up in trip.

“She pulled up well after a tough run in the Randwick Guineas and Josh Parr came and rode her this morning and was really happy with her work.

“She worked on the course proper at Warwick Farm, the ground was heavy and he seemed to think she got through it well. So wet or dry, I wouldn’t have too many concerns.”

Newnham said that Scarlet Dream deserves a shot at the big time over 2000m after running on from the back when third in the Kembla Grange Classic and expects her to be running on again.

“Scarlet Dream is a really progressive filly,” Newnham said.

“When she won those couple of races last preparation, I had this in mind and said she was a good staying filly.

“My first thoughts were to probably go to the Adrian Knox Stakes but she ran really well the other day. She wasn’t too far off Pohutukawa and I just thought she deserved her chance.

“She will relish the 2000 and she handles wet or dry.

“She will be the one who will probably be more advantaged at 2400 metres.”

Newnham will employ a change of tactics for Greysful Glamour and would like to see her up with the leading division.

“She will be ridden more aggressively on Saturday with an intention to lead and I’m sure that will see her a lot better off,” Newnham said.

The Chris Waller trained Verry Elleegant heads the market order at $3.50 at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Vinery Stud Stakes ahead of Nakeeta Jane and Pohutukawa at $5.50 and El Dorado Dreaming at $8.

Early betting for the 2019 Vinery Stud Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.50 Verry Elleegant, $5.50 Nakeeta Jane, Pohutukawa, $8 El Dorado Dreaming, $10 Scarlet Dream, $11 Aristia, Seabrook, $15 Frankley Awesome, $26 Autumn, Qafila, Zalatee, $31 Greysful Glamour, Maracaibo, Romani Girl, $41 House Of Cartier, $51 Futooh, Rocknavar, Welsh Legend, $101 Alexandria.

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.