Adelaide campaign begins at the Valley
David Brideoake is working to a plan he hopes will land lightly raced filly Thames Court black type success this autumn.
The Mornington trainer deliberately held Thames Court back from an early autumn campaign in Melbourne with the three-year-old fillies races during the Adelaide carnival in mind.
Her campaign starts at Moonee Valley on Monday in the City Jeep Cherokee Handicap (1200m).
A maiden winner on debut at Pakenham, Thames Court then headed to town where she finished third behind classy fillies Don’t Doubt Mamma and Sacred Eye at Caulfield.
She then finished fifth in the Group Two Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington before running third behind My Popette at Moonee Valley.
“She measured up quite well in the spring and we think she’s since gone on and developed a bit,” Brideoake said.
“I would be hoping by the time we get to Adelaide she’ll be right in the money in those types of races.”
Brideoake plans a three-run campaign in Adelaide at Morphettville starting with the Laelia Stakes over 1600m on April 9, progressing to the Auraria Stakes over 1800m on April 23.
Her main target is the Group One Australasian Oaks at 2000m on May 7.
Brideoake says the filly has had a nice preparation leading into Monday including two trials at Cranbourne.
“She’s coming off a couple of trials that have been satisfactory,” Brideoake said.
“I think she’s drawn quite nicely and she’s had a good program going into this.
“The cliche is, she’s a progressive filly.”
Stablemate, two-year-old filly Pearl Of The Plain, lines up in the City Jeep Patriot Plate.
A debut second in a Kyneton maiden in January, Pearl Of The Plain is among the entries for the Percy Sykes Stakes at Randwick during The Championships.
“We were set to take her to the Cinderella Stakes in Adelaide last week but she drew 19 and so we didn’t go,” Brideoake said.
“It’s a nice race for her, but there’s a lot of unknown form. It’s a bit of a lottery.”