Kennedy Oaks: Aaron Purcell backs Aloisia to handle pressure test

TRAINER Aaron Purcell is confident his star filly Aloisia is up for any challenge in Thursday’s $1m Kennedy Oaks at Flemington.

TRAINER Aaron Purcell is wary of any repeat in the “unusual tactics” which brought down an odds-on Oaks favourite last year, but is confident his star filly Aloisia is up for any challenge in Thursday’s $1 million race.

A year ago $101 outsider Lasqueti Spirit produced daring frontrunning tactics, holding on to cause a boilover, with $1.95 favourite Yankee Rose finishing a disappointing 14th.

But Purcell said he and jockey Luke Nolen will be ready for whatever comes in the Kennedy Oaks, insisting his filly has improvement left in her following stunning wins in the Thousand Guineas and the Moonee Valley Vase.

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“There are a few horses (in The Oaks) with questionable Group 1 form, so there is a possibility that unusual tactics will be employed again,” Purcell said.

“We are just going to worry about our horse. We think we can run the strongest last 600m, so if we are in sight, I think we have got a horse to win from any position.”

Aloisia could hardly have been more impressive in her three runs this campaign, and in a concern for her 11 rivals, Purcell thinks the further the trip, the better she will be.

Aloisia is an odds-on favourite for Thursday’s Kennedy Oaks at Flemington.

“We always thought she would be a horse who would excel at 2000m or further,” he said. “She has had one run at 2000m (in the Vase) and was quite impressive. We definitely have no fear that the 2500m will be a problem.

“We think she has got improvement left in her.

“We didn’t go to the Vase expecting to win, we went there expecting to bring her on for The Oaks, but we were obviously excited with what we saw.”

Aloisia, who provided Purcell with his first Group 1 win in the Thousand Guineas, is $1.55 favourite with TAB. He said the main dangers were impressive Wakeful Stakes winner Luvaluva and Ethereal Stakes winner Pinot.

“Pinot is a high quality filly and she is going to see the trip out strongly,” he said. “She is going to put herself into the race. Luvaluva was good last Saturday, and a few of the others look like nice staying fillies.”

Jockey Luke Nolen and trainer Aaron Purcell will be chasing more silverware with Aloisia on Thursday.

Purcell, who took over Ciaron Maher’s stable after Maher’s six-month suspension, won his second Group 1 last Saturday when exciting colt Merchant Navy franked his $10-million stallion future by winning the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Merchant Navy has now gone to the paddock and will be brought back for the autumn, with the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap as his main target.

“We will try and increase his stud value, which is obviously quite high at the moment, and try and get it as high as we can,” he said.

OAKS BREEDING ANALYSIS

INGLIS pedigree expert Mark Dodemaide rates the pedigrees of the Oaks field.

HIYAAM (8/10)

High Chaparral-Mazarine by Zabeel

Foaled: 23rd September 2014

Cost: $200,000 Inglis Easter

By outstanding staying sire High Chaparral, sire of So You Think, Ace High, etc. Exact same cross as Dundeel, Fenway. Grand-dam Marquise Gr 1 winner to 2000m.

PINOT (7.9)

Pierro-Dizelle by Zabeel

Foaled: 3rd November 2014

Cost: $200,000 Inglis Easter.

Dam won AJC Oaks and by Cups sire Zabeel. Also sister to Vengeance Of Rain (Sheema Classic 2400m).

CIRCULEIGHT (7.6)

Sebring-Allow by Rahy

Foaled: 28th August 2014

Cost: $230,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast.

Sire more than capable of getting Classic horses inc. Criterion, Dissident. Dam won (Qld Oaks).

BRING ME ROSES (7.5)

High Chaparral-Freckeld Face by Polish Patriot

Foaled: 12th September 2014

Cost: Not offered

Sire won English Derby and great at getting stayers inc. So You Think, Dundeel, Shoot Out, etc. Grand-dam by Sir Ivor (English Derby).

LUVALUVA (7.3)

Mastercraftsman-Wansesingyee by Galileo

Foaled: 5th November 2014

Cost: $55,000 NZ Ready To Run.

Sire has produced classic horses The Grey Gatsby, Amazing Maria, etc. in Europe. Dam by champion staying sire Galileo sire of Highland Reel, Adelaide, etc.

FOUR KOALAS (7.2)

Animal Kingdom-Dianthus by Red Ransom

Foaled: 21st October

Cost: Not offered

Sire won Kentucky Derby. Grand-dam Slightly Pink (Pinjarra Oaks Trial 2150m).

ALOISIA (7.2)

Azamour-Queen Boudicca by Perfectly Ready

Foaled: 1st September 2014

Cost: Passed in $60,000 NZ National.

Sire won King George & Queen Elizabeth Diamond S. 2400m. Grand-dam by Grosvenor (VRC Derby).

RELIABLE DAME (7.1)

Reliable Man-Rosey Dane by Woodman

Foaled: 27th August

Cost: $155,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast.

Sire won French Derby and promising young sire of stayers inc. Main Stage. Grand-dam Rose Of Dane stakes-winner to 1500m and most of family at best to around that distance

RIMRAAM (7)

Commands-Swansea by Singspiel

Foaled: 23rd August

Cost: $340,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast.

Half sister to Sweynesse (ATC Gloaming S. 1800m). Mare won to 2400m. Grand-dam by Nashwan (English Derby).

MISS ADMIRATION (6.9)

Sebring-Admiring by Street Cry

Foaled: 19th August

Cost: $210,000 Inglis Easter).

Sire more than capable of getting Classic horses inc. Criterion, Dissident, etc. From a half-sister to Empire Dancer (Belmont Oaks).

SWEET MISCHIEF (6.8)

Zoffany-Sugar Cube by Octagonal)

Foaled: 30th September

Cost: $110,000 Inglis Classic

By a young stallion who has already got good stayer Ventura Storm. Grand-dam a half to the dam of Sonntag (Qld Derby).

LUCKY LOUIE (6.7)

Pluck-La Bella Luisa by Clang

Foaled: 6th September

Cost: Not offered

Sire has produced handy stayer Mongolian Wolf. Third-dam by outstanding staying sire Sir Tristram.

Originally published as Kennedy Oaks: Aaron Purcell backs Aloisia to handle pressure test