Kirramosa is expected to back up her dominant Wakeful Stakes performance in taking out the Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on Thursday.
The John Sargent-trained filly has been gradually upped in trip and right throughout gave the indication she was going to be a leading player in Thursday’s staying feature for three-year-old fillies.
That indication was none more prevalent than at Flemington last Saturday when settling back and overpowering her rivals late in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m).
Kirramosa was full of running on that occasion as a 1 ¼ length win ensued over many rivals she faces again here who only battled in her wake.
The way she attacked the line was indicative of a filly who will handle the 2500m and has enough in her pedigree to support that idea.
Her rating’s profile also sees the daughter of Alamosa with an edge over key rivals.
Kirramosa’s Wakeful Stakes performance yielded the filly a new master Timeform rating of 111.
That figure isn’t the highest boasted by any filly in the field but is the best possessed by those in the field who have raced over 2000m by at least one pound.
As she did in the Wakeful, expect Kirramosa to settle back and rattle home this time under the urgings of Nash Rawiller.
Second in the Wakeful Stakes was the Darren Weir-trained May’s Dream.
The New Approach filly stuck to her task well in the Wakeful Stakes as has been the case in each of her runs this campaign.
Her peak figure of 110 was yielded when second behind champion three-year-old Guelph in the Thousand Guineas (1600m).
Usually one to settle worse than midfield, May’s Dream showed her tractability by stalking the speed and fought on admirably behind Guelph.
There does not appear to be a great deal of speed in the contest so jockey Nick Hall can choose to go forward aboard the daughter of New Approach if he sees fit.
The above mentioned pair are the two who come out of the Wakeful with the most upside.
One who might be able to run a bold race is the Guy Walter-trained Zanbagh.
Zanbagh hasn’t embarked on a traditional Oaks preparation and arrives in the event off a dominant victory against more seasoned mares at Sale over 2000m last start.
On face value, the form line compared to the Wakeful appears weak.
In Zanbagh’s favour however was the ease of the success against older horses and the fact she is under the tutelage of Guy Walter.
A new peak will be required from the Bernardini filly but seeing her lift to that extent wouldn’t surprise.
Solicit, Arabian Gold and Gypsy Diamond ran third through fifth in the Wakeful and look the trio worth including in trifectas and first fours.
Seeing them turn the tables on Kirramosa in Thursday’s Crown Oaks appears unlikely though and the Alamosa filly appears set to provide John Sargent with his first Group 1 since transferring his stable from Matamata to Randwick.
The Crown Oaks is a noted favourites race with 12 market elects having saluted since 1991, the last Brazilian Pulse in 2010.
Brazilian Pulse was also the last to claim the Wakeful Stakes – Crown Oaks double, and Kirramosa is expected to become the 36th filly to achieve the feat at Flemington on Thursday.
