Miss Cooper on trial for Australasian Oaks

Miss Cooper will be out to keep Australasian Oaks plans alive when she runs at Caulfield.

The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained Miss Cooper, a city winner at Sandown over 1600m on December 30, weakened after sitting near the speed to finish at the tail of the field in her return over 1500m against her on age at Sandown on April 9.

“She ran a bit below par and then we had her set for a race about 10 days later and she got a bit of a cold so we had to back off there,” Zahra said.

Ellerton and Zahra scratched the daughter of Medaglia D’Oro from a race at Flemington on Monday when she drew the outside barrier and instead waited for Saturday’s Ern Jensen Funerals Plate (1600m).

“If she comes through this run well and performs well she’ll go on to the Oaks,” Zahra said.

“If she runs a bit below par, we’ll probably head to the paddock with her.

“To get her over there and be competitive, she has got to be going well in this type of race.

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“She looks well at home and she’s pretty fit, so we expect a better showing than the other day.”

The Australasian Oaks (2000m) is on Saturday week.

Three fillies in Saturday’s race – Lahqa, She’s Got Speed and Miss Cooper – are among the 33 Oaks nominations.

Ellerton and Zahra have four runners heading to Caulfield with two-year-old Schilleraine set to make his debut in the Listed Thoroughbred Club Cup.

Zahra believes Enquare, second favourite for the Charter Keck Cramer Plate (1400m), put the writing on the wall with her last-start third in the Listed Anniversary Vase in her third run for the stable and will be fitter again for Saturday.

“It was a terrific run and she hit the line well. She’s knocking on the door,” he said.

Zahra is also expecting a good showing El Greco in the Sky High Mt Dandenong Handicap, believing he will relish a step up to 1800m.

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