FNQ trainer eyes southern tilt for tough mare

Tolga trainer Roy Chillemi will make time to cast his eye over the state’s southeast corner after Oriental Girl returned from a spell in the best possible way at Cannon Park on Tuesday.

Tolga trainer Roy Chillemi will make time to cast his eye over the state’s southeast corner after Oriental Girl returned from a spell in the best possible way at Cannon Park on Tuesday.

The four-year-old mare cruised out of the gates in the Open Handicap (950m) but had to dig deep to overcome a late challenge from the Trevor Rowe-trained Hard Yaga in the straight.

Chillemi said Oriental Girl would keep tackling open company in North Queensland for the time being, with a plan to send her back down south for another crack later in the year.

“We’re going to race her right through this year and then she’ll probably go down to Brisbane and have a go at a no-metropolitan win, which is a fillies and mares race for horses that haven’t won a race in town,” he said.

Oriental Girl, ridden by Wanderson D'Avila, wins Race 3 at the Cairns Jockey Club, Cannon Park, Woree Picture: Brendan Radke

“We sent her down before and she drew wide and got beaten just over a length.

“We gave her one go and then brought her back home, but she’s definitely up to a no-metropolitan win and a one-metropolitan win.

“She’d win a couple of them and that’d be her.”

After notching six wins and three minor placings in her first 13 starts at Cairns and Townsville, Oriental Girl tried her luck in the QTIS Three-Years-Old Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm last March. She finished fourth, two lengths behind the winner Bold Style.

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Wanderson D'Avila, winning jockey of Race 3 riding Oriental Girl, at the Cairns Jockey Club, Cannon Park, Woree. Picture: Brendan Radke

But Chillemi was confident she would be a better horse this time around, with another year of racing experience under her belt.

“She’s as fast as any other three-year-old I’ve had personally,” he said.

“She tries all the time and her form speaks for itself.

“I’m not saying she’s going to win everything, but she’ll be very competitive in open company, as long as I stick to 1000m, up to 1100m.”

In her past 10 starts, Oriental Girl has finished first on four occasions, second on five occasions, and fourth once, at Eagle Farm.

Jockey Wanderson D’Avila, who has ridden Oriental Girl in five of her eight career wins, including the most recent at Cairns on Tuesday, said she was an honest and tough horse.

“First up after the spell, I thought she probably would lock up a little bit, but she didn’t, she just done her job,” he said.

“She’s a future horse.”

Oriental Girl will likely race the Open Handicap over 1000m at Townsville on March 11.

Originally published as FNQ trainer eyes southern tilt for tough mare