Jockey Ben Melham is playing the waiting game to see if he will be able to ride She Will Reign in the 2018 Ladbrokes Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
She Will Reign will have the chance to claim another Group 1 victory in the 2018 Oakleigh Plate. Photo by: Steve Hart
Melham has been aboard the Gary Portelli-trained She Will Reign for the majority of her eight race starts which includes the win in the 2017 Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill almost twelve months ago.
But Melham had to forego the winning ride on the Warwick Farm trained filly when she only carried 50kg when Kerrin McEvoy steered her to a last stride win in the Group 1 $500,000 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley during the 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Melham was back on She Will Reign for her first up win this campaign in the $250,000 Inglis Sprint (1100m) at Warwick Farm on February 10 with 54kg but if she is allocated anything less than that in the Oakleigh Plate, the Melbourne based jockey will have to relinquish the ride again.
“We are waiting on nominations on Monday to see where she sits and hoping she gets more than 53 so Benny can ride,” Portelli told AAP.
“Anything less and it will be hard for him.”
She Will Reign has come through her Inglis Sprint win in fine order and will head to Melbourne later in the week and will probably get her first look at Caulfield on race day.
“She’ll probably go down on Thursday,” Portelli said.
“Sometimes we can over-think these things.”
“She’d never been to Moonee Valley. She’s never raced under lights and she won the Moir Stakes.”
Early betting for the Ladbrokes Oakleigh Plate at Ladbrokes.com.au has the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Russian Revolution as the $4.50 favourite just ahead of She Will Reign at $5.50 and Booker and Snitty Kitty at $6.
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