A first up attempt to win the 2019 Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 23 is what trainer Lloyd Kennewell is aiming for his dual Group 1 winner Viddora.
Viddora, above, could run first up in the 2019 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Kennewell is not ready to confirm a start in the Group 1 Sprint for his Viddora but said if his stable star was ready to head back to the races, that was the race he would like to see her run in.
“I’ve made it clear that we’re unclear of where we are heading at the moment. There’s so many options for her and I’m just going to let her tell us,” Kennewell told AAP.
“But if she’s ready for the Oakleigh Plate she will go there.
“We’ll just assess that closer to the race but the plan is to try to get her to the Oakleigh Plate first-up because she is so good first-up.”
“I’m happy how she’s going along now.”
“She has been ticking over for a couple of weeks at Caulfield and she looks brilliant.
“She’s looks very happy and settled.”
Kennewell and Viddora both claimed their Maiden Group 1 win when the mare won the Group 1 $1m Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot during the 2017 Perth Summer Carnival.
Voddora then stamped her Group 1 standings with a first up win in the Group 1 $500,000 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley during the 2018 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Kennewell then pencilled in a return trip to Perth looking for back to back wins in the Winterbottom Stakes but the mare failed to fire and could only beat three runners home in finishing eleventh behind the Darren Weir trained Voodoo Lad.
Betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the 2019 Oakleigh Plate has Viddora marked at $17 while the Darren Weir trained Nature Strip is the early $5 favourite ahead of Pierata, Written By and Zousain at $7.
Early betting for the 2019 Oakleigh Plate at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5 Nature Strip, $7 Pierata, Written By, Zousain, $8 Sunlight, $9 Eduardo, $10 Osborne Bulls, $13 Lean Mean Machine, $16 Enticing Star, Houtzen, $17 I Am Excited, Runson, Viddora, Voodoo Lad, $21 Brave Smash, In Her Time, Invincible Star, Petrelle, Spright, Zoustyle, $26 or better the rest.
The post Viddora aiming for 2019 Oakleigh Plate first up appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au.
