Ben Smith’s ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes winning filly El Dorado Dreaming is in the paddock for a well-earned spell but will return in the spring in Melbourne targeting the VRC Oaks 2018 in November.
Melbourne’s 2018 Kennedy Oaks is calling untapped filly El Dorado Dreaming this coming spring carnival. Photo: Steve Hart.
The well-bred daughter of Ilovethiscity proved her narrow win at $91 blowout odds in the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) was no fluke with another big run at Royal Randwick last weekend.
Having only made her black-type debut for her upset Group 1 win over Oohood on Day 1 of ‘The Championships’, El Dorado Dreaming franked the form flashing home to make up all the late ground for a third behind Seabrook in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m).
Jockey Jason Collett admitted post-race that El Dorado Dreaming had a luckless run getting caught in traffic and that she could likely have enjoyed back-to-back Group 1 wins with a clearer passage.
“Good run. Just found a bit of traffic at the top of the straight there and that took away a bit of her finish,” he said.
Smith was also thrilled with the gutsy effort from his up-and-comer who looks set to come back a bigger and stronger three-year-old in the spring.
She will race at home in Sydney first with the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) on September 15 her likely first-up option ahead of the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick over the mile.
“She goes for a spell now and will resume in the Tea Rose Stakes and run in the Flight Stakes second-up,” the Newcastle-based horseman told Racing Victoria.
“Then we’re off to Melbourne for a crack at the Oaks – she’s a query at the trip but has class and relaxes well in her races.”
Formerly the Crown Oaks, the Group 1 $1 million Kennedy Oaks (2500m) runs at Flemington on November 8.
Samantha Miss (2008) was the last filly to do the interstate Flight Stakes – VRC Oaks double that Smith has El Dorado Dreaming set for this spring.
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