Beaten VRC Oaks favourite Aloisia could be given another chance to win over an extended distance with trainer Aaron Purcell keeping the 2018 ATC Oaks on the agenda for her this autumn.
Aloisia will take on the boys first-up in Melbourne’s Australian Guineas 2018 before a possible ATC Oaks bid in Sydney. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The daughter of Azamour has won three of her eight career starts, most famously taking out the Group 1 $500,000 Thousand Guineas (1600m) second-up in the spring.
Runner-up in the Group 1 $600,000 J.J. Atkins (1600m) in Brisbane as a two-year-old, Aloisia backed-up from her Thousand Guineas success saluting at The Valley on Cox Plate Day in the Group 1 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m).
After defeating the colts and geldings there by three and a half-lengths, Purcell gave Aloisia a shot at a second elite level at Flemington on November 9 in the Group 1 $1 million VRC Oaks (2500m).
She jumped the punters’ pick in the Melbourne Cup Carnival classic, but could only manage to run a midfield sixth to Pinot.
Purcell was pleased with a Tuesday morning hit-out at Caulfield by Aloisia, who is down to resume in the Group 3 $150,000 The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington Racecourse on February 17.
“I thought she was quite good this morning, she settled well and was really strong through the line,” the in-form horseman told Racing Victoria on Tuesday.
From there Aloisia will look to emulate Shamrocker (4th in 2011) and Mosheen (2nd in 2011) as fillies backing-up out of The Vanity to beat the boys in the Australian Guineas.
This season’s Group 1 $1 million Australian Guineas (1600m) is scheduled for March 3 and is also the confirmed early autumn aim for the fellow Purcell-trained Villermont.
Following the mile run, Aloisia will head up to Sydney and stepped-up in distance for the Group 1 $500,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 31.
Her performance there will then determine whether Purcell presses onto ‘The Championships’ and the Group 1 $1 million Australian Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick on April 14.
“She goes to The Vanity then second-up into the Australian Guineas and maybe to Sydney after that,” Purcell said.
“She’ll be nominated for the Oaks in Sydney and she’ll probably run in the Vinery a couple of weeks earlier and then we’ll work out whether we got to the Oaks.”
All-in Vinery Stud Stakes betting at bookmakers down under list Aloisia as the firm favourite ahead of her last start conqueror, the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained VRC Oaks winning daughter of Pierro Pinot.
The last Vinery Stud Stakes graduate to back-up next race and win the ATC Oaks was Rising Romance (4th in 2014).
As for futures ATC Oaks betting, Aloisia and Pinot are again the pre-nomination favourites.
To get behind Aloisia this autumn and access the season’s top autumn Group 1 racing markets visit Ladbrokes.com.au.
