Veuvelicious can book a start in Saturday week’s Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) with a win in Saturday’s Listed Fernhill Handicap (1600m) at Randwick in Sydney.
A fast-finishing third in the Group 3 The Schweppervescence (1400m) at Rosehill last start, trainer Brent Stanley said it wouldn’t worry him backing up the filly.
“If she can win and pull up well I’ll look at running her in the Champagne,” Stanley said.
“She’s the right kind of horse to be able to back up into that race.
“She pulled up sensationally after her last start; she didn’t leave any of her food and has been bright-eyed and worked well since.
“If she can win the race on Saturday then she warrants running in the Champagne but at the moment she’s a Sandown winner and a Group 3 placegetter.”
Set to be partnered Damien Oliver, Stanley said the insider barrier should be an advantage for the daughter of Northern Meteor who he said wasn’t suited by a stop/start tempo at Rosehill.
“Nothing seemed to go her way with the speed and the tempo of the race last start and where she was positioned in the run,” he said.
“When they quickened up she hit a bit of a flat spot but she really attacked the line over the last 100m.
“She’ll jump out and roll forward and if they want to go fast they can cross her. It’s a bonus that she is very versatile and can race anywhere depending on how fast or slowly they want to go.
“I would dare say she should be hard to beat Saturday.”
Currently rated the $2.40 favourite with TAB fixed odds, win, lose or draw on Saturday Stanley said he was already eyeing off the $1 million Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington in November.
“She’d shown us even before she had her first start that she was always going to be a lovely staying filly as a three-year-old.
“I think the further she goes the better she’ll go, I’ve got no question about that.
“She’s had to race against the colts at her last few starts and she’s beaten every other filly in those races so you’d have to say she’s definitely one of the better staying type of two-year-old fillies going around at the moment.”
– Racing Victoria
