Vain Queen Ready To Fire In Oakleigh Plate
- Tuesday, 24 February 2015 07:10
John Sadler is content with his decision to dodge a Lightning Stakes start with Vain Queen and hopes it reaps a Group One reward in the Oakleigh Plate.
Last weekend's weight-for-age Lightning Stakes and Saturday's Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield were both considered for Vain Queen's return.
After watching Lankan Rupee destroy his rivals at Flemington, Sadler was comfortable he made the right choice.
"I think all along we were probably going to go to the Oakleigh Plate but I thought maybe a Group One placing at weight-for-age would have been good for her," Sadler said.
"But it would be better if we can win on Saturday."
Sadler said he wouldn't swap Vain Queen for any other runner in the race and believed she had a live chance following a pleasing gallop on Tuesday.
"She's taken a little while to come to hand but after her work this morning, I'm happy," Sadler said.
"I'm not saying she'll win but I'm really pleased with her and I feel very confident after this morning that she's going to run a great race."
Vain Queen sat a couple of lengths off her galloping partner in Tuesday's workout before joining her stablemate and running home in 22.05s for the last 400m.
Damian Lane has the ride on Vain Queen and jumped aboard her for the first time on Tuesday.
"I couldn't fault her," Lane said.
Bel Sprinter has topweight of 58kg for the Oakleigh Plate which has attracted 20 nominations.
Trainer Peter Moody could have up to three runners including Flamberge who is set to take aim after his second to the highly-rated Chautauqau in the Rubiton Stakes.
The trainer is bullish about the chances of A Time For Julia, who finished second to Lankan Rupee in a recent trial, with Peron rounding out his trio of entries.
"He (Flamberge) goes in as the form horse and probably with the best formline but I just can't get out of my head how well she (A Time For Julia) is going and I think she gets a great chance," Moody said.
