Connections of lightly-tried filly Vegas Jewel (NZ) will be hoping for a trouble-free run when the daughter of Shocking contests Saturday’s Gr.1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville.
Prepared by Mark Kavanagh for a syndicate headed by Laurence Eales, who enjoyed success as the owner of the filly’s sire Shocking, Vegas Jewel has won two of her seven starts to date, while also placing in both the Gr.2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) and Gr.3 NZB Ethereal Stakes (2000m) in spring.
The talented filly endured a checkered run in the Gr.3 Auraria Stakes (1800m) a fortnight ago, going to the line under a hold to finish 12th.
But with a better barrier for Saturday’s Grand Final her luckless last-start efforts have not gone unnoticed, with punters supporting the staying filly into $7.50 third favourite behind Affair To Remember (Toronado) ($5) and Toffee Tongue (NZ) (Tavistock) ($7).
“She got galloped on last start but there is nothing significant there,” Eales said.
“She has come through it well. She didn’t even get warmed up in that run, she was pretty luckless, so we are certainly looking forward to getting to the races this Saturday and she does have a better barrier (4) so hopefully that works in the jockey’s (Jason Holder) favour this time.”
Vegas Jewel had her first raceday start in September last year and quickly progressed from an Echuca maiden.
“She has come back really well,” Eales said. “Last time when she was in, she still had a winter coat and she seemed very weedy at the time and had a lot of developing to do.
“I was actually surprised she even made it to the races last preparation let alone to go from winning a maiden to contend at the spring carnival.
“She has definitely come back bigger, better and stronger as we always thought she would.”
With rain forecast for Adelaide, Eales takes heart from Vegas Jewel’s narrow defeat behind Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man) on a rain-affected Flemington track when second in the Wakeful.
“I think it might be an advantage for her,” he said. “I would say she will handle a wet track.”
