Henry Dwyer will keep promising filly Leotie in Melbourne this weekend and resist the temptation to run in Saturday’s Run To The Rose at Rosehill in Sydney.
Dwyer had nominated the daughter of Darci Brahma for the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) and the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, but has instead opted to head towards a BM78 over 1400m for three-year-old fillies at Caulfield.
Though the Golden Rose remains a target for the filly, Dwyer said she needed to win against her own age and sex on Saturday to earn a shot at the $1 million Group 1 a fortnight later.
“There’s pretty light nominations for the race on Saturday and it will give her a good opportunity to step-up to 1400m in what doesn’t look an overly strong race,” Dwyer said.
“Caulfield’s her home track so she should be able to run a good race.
“Rather than being up in Sydney for an extended period of time through to the Golden Rose we’ll run her here and if she can win then we’ll take her up for the Golden Rose three days before and then give her the run and then bring her back for the (Thousand) Guineas Prelude and Thousand Guineas.”
Dwyer said he wasn’t initially sure whether Leotie would be mature enough this preparation to be targeted towards a race like the Thousand Guineas until her fast-finishing second placing in the Quezette Stakes (1100m) last start.
“The way she was able to settle back and relax and finish off well last start swayed me that she’ll get 1600 and maybe even further,” he said.
“It’s always been a bit of a battle getting her to settle but the penny dropped in that run and I couldn’t be happier with her.
“She pulled up terrifically from her last run and was really clean in the wind.”
Leotie is rated a $15 chance in Thousand Guineas market, which has doubtful starters Omei Sword and Yankee Rose at the top of the betting at $5 and $6 respectively.
– racing.com
