Gold Coast trainer Peter Robl to test smart filly Overfull as spring carnival contender in Cap D’Antibes Stakes at Flemington

Overfull has already been a marvellous money spinner for connections but Gold Coast trainer Peter Robl is happy to test the filly’s Melbourne spring credentials at Flemington on Saturday.

Speedy Gold Coast filly Overfull could show that a three-year-old doesn’t have to be in the top echelon to reap the riches during the Melbourne spring carnival.

Overfull has already been an inspired purchase, returning more than 10 times her paltry price in only four starts for trainer Peter Robl and his fellow part-owners.

Robl has sent Overfull to Melbourne to see whether she was capable of measuring up to stakes company in Saturday’s Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) at Flemington.

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“We paid 14 grand for her so she owes us absolutely nothing but we just hope she can measure up and might be good enough,” Robl said.

The Cap D’Antibes Stakes could be a chance for some fillies to press their claims of running in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes or Group 1 Coolmore Stakes in the coming weeks.

However, Robl said tackling such lofty company was not part of his spring plan for Overfull.

“If we’re talking bottles of whisky, I don’t think she’s top shelf,” Robl said.

“We’ve just gone down there with the hope that she will measure up to the second-tier group of three-year-olds.

“If she does that, we’d be over the moon.”

While the Melbourne spring carnival offered terrific prizemoney, Robl said racing Overfull in Victoria could bring extra cash in the form of breeders’ scheme bonuses.

Overfull goes all the way and hangs on to take out the 5th race at Scone. @rubba0711pic.twitter.com/K4LiOxY0K7

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2024

“We sent her down there because she’s a VOBIS filly,” Robl said.

“She can race in Queensland anytime but we thought, as she’s a VOBIS filly and a three-year-old, she could ideally get a bit of black type down there and enhance her value.”

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Overfull finished second in a trial at the Gold Coast on August 15 before heading to her spring base at Clinton McDonald’s Cranbourne stable about a week later.

The Overshare filly subsequently pleased Robl with her third in a Cranbourne jumpout on September 3.

“She went terrific in the jumpout, I thought, in what was a solid trial,” Robl said.

Robl has booked leading jockey Blake Shinn to ride Overfull in the Cap D’Antibes Stakes. The trainer said drawing the outside for the $175,000 contest, which will be run down the Flemington straight course, would be perfect for his speedy charge.

“In an ideal world, they’ll be coming down the outside because the running rail will be on her natural side that she’s used to,” Robl said.

“She’s got the speed, as she showed in the trial, so she’s certainly going to put herself in the first couple.”

Originally published as Gold Coast trainer Peter Robl to test smart filly Overfull as spring carnival contender in Cap D’Antibes Stakes at Flemington