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Miss Quaintly on last trial for Melbourne

26 September 2018

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By Glenn Davis

Trainer David Vandyke is confident Miss Quaintly can fill the final piece of his interstate jigsaw puzzle when the filly runs at Doomben on Saturday.

Miss Quaintly will confirm a Melbourne trip if she wins or runs well in the Cascade QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1615m).

In a small field of only seven runners, Miss Quaintly drew barrier five.

The filly has been given another chance to earn an interstate trip following her disappointing fourth to the Rob Heathcote-trained Stella Victoria over 1350 metres at Doomben on September 15.

“Miss Quaintly will run and if she goes well enough will go to Melbourne for some of the three-year-old races and hopefully the Victoria Oaks,” Vandyke said.

“I’m glad she’s back to 1600 metres as they sprinted off the corner too quick for her last start and was left behind.

“Back to 1600 metres and against her own age is ideal.

“She wasn’t suited last time at Doomben when the sectionals were slow.”

Vandyke also nominated Baccarat Baby for the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap in case the filly failed to make the field for the G1 Flight Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Stablemate Asharani is already in Melbourne and is first emergency for the G2 Schweppes Thousand Guineas Prelude (1600m) at Caulfield on Sunday.

“I only nominated Baccarat Baby for Doomben as a back-up in case she didn’t make the Flight Stakes field,” Vandyke said.

“Asharani is in good shape in Melbourne and trialled well there last week.

“Hopefully she'll get a run in the Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield on Sunday before going on to the Thousand Guineas.”

Vandyke was concerned Baccarat Bay, who is unbeaten at her past five starts, might not make the Flight Stakes field when nominations closed.

Baccarat Baby’s only defeat in six starts was when she placed on debut at Doomben in February.

“She’s drawn eight in the Flight Stakes which is fine as there’s a good run to the first turn and she’ll get back anyway,” Vandyke said.

“This is her hardest race but she’s in winning form and we know she’ll run 1600 metres.”

Baccarat Baby will be ridden by Michael Hellyer who will ride in a Group 1 race in Sydney for the first time.

Vandyke will be guided by Baccarat Baby’s Flight Stakes performance before deciding whether to extend her campaign to Melbourne.

“I’ve got three fillies in three States this weekend and if Baccarat Baby runs well she might go on to the Thousand Guineas a s well,” he said.

“I’ve already paid up for her in the Thousand Guineas.”

Racing Queensland webnews   September 26