Miss Rose De Lago aims for another G2 win
Damien Oliver admits Miss Rose De Lago’s task in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes has been made harder by the outside barrier as the jockey chases a fifth win in the race.
Oliver won the Group Two P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) on Miss Rose De Lago at Caulfield last month and is expecting a stiffer test in Saturday’s Group Two weight-for-age race over 1600m.
Oliver has won the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes, formerly the Feehan, on Tristalove (1994), Northerly (2001), Fields Of Omagh (2002) and Whobegotyou (2009).
“I’m hopeful more than confident,” Oliver said.
“We’ve drawn the outside which is not going to make it easy. We had the luxury of a good barrier draw last start.
“The competition is probably going to go up another level but if she can have some luck from the outside draw, she’s going to be there again.”
Miss Rose De Lago is the second favourite at $6 behind Japanese import Tosen Stardom who is at $5.50 to win his first start since joining the Darren Weir stable.
Miss Rose De Lago was a dominant winner of the Group Two Sunline Stakes over 1600m the last time she raced at Moonee Valley during this year’s autumn carnival.
Oliver’s book of rides at Moonee Valley has been reduced by one with the Ciaron Maher-trained Chloe In Paris scratched from the Group Two McEwen Stakes.
The following Saturday at Flemington, Oliver will chase his first Group One win of the new season having picked up the ride on Memsie Stakes winner Black Heart Bart for the Makybe Diva Stakes.
Brad Rawiller, who rode Black Heart Bart in the Memsie, has been ruled out of Makybe Diva Stakes day by suspension.