Sheezdashing has demanded a spot in Saturday’s Queensland Oaks after thriving since her near miss in the Schweppes Oaks in Adelaide, according to co-trainer Simon Zahra.
The Flemington-based trainer admitted on Tuesday that the Queensland Oaks was never a definite aim for the filly because it is being run at the tight-turning Doomben track, but he said the she made the decision to tackle Saturday’s classic in Brisbane with her attitude.
“We didn’t make a decision (to run in Saturday’s Oaks) straight away and we just let her settle back into her routine through that week after we got back from Adelaide and we were just rapt with the way she came through it all,” Zahra said.
“Adelaide sort of switched her on a bit and she’s settled down really well up there.”
Sheezdashing rises from the 2000 metres of the Schweppes Oaks – where she flashed home late to run second to Sopressa – to 2200m on Saturday, but Zahra said the distance rise was the least of her worries.
“I’m not sure that’s a big issue,” he said of the trip. “It is more getting around Doomben and hoping they can get back and run on and that’s what she is.
“She has no early gate speed and she likes to be outside horses as well so we can only ride her one way.
“Sometimes you have to slaughter her and get her to the outside to win.
“(She needs) genuine speed and something to string them along a bit and get something to take her into the race. The other day, she was the one taking everything into the race.
“So, if she can get onto the back of something and get an easier run in, she’s got an amazing turn of foot once she gets going.
“The other day, she just stopped a little bit when she hit the front so we’ve been thinking of taking the blinkers off but it’s 50-50 whether we do or not.”
Zahra said Sheezdashing has continued to impress since arriving in Queensland.
“She worked there this morning and she worked super,” he said. “We don’t have to do much with her as she’s been in work a long time and had a couple of hard runs so we’re just been ticking her over since she’s been up there.”
Zahra said he was pleased to continue the filly’s association with Damien Thornton as the 22-year-old was enjoying a break-out season and currently sits seventh on the Victorian jockeys’ premiership with 77 wins.
“Damien Thornton, he’s riding super,” Zahra said. “He’s been doing a lot of hard work for us and it’s good to give these (young) guys a chance at a Group 1.”
Zahra said the stable was aware of what the future could hold if Sheezdashing can take the prize on Saturday.
“If she can get this on the board, it’s a big tick for her,” he said.
“She steps out to a nice Caulfield Cup distance and maybe there’s something like that for her next year.”
– racing.com
