Canberra trainer Nick Olive couldn’t be happier with his slick speedster Rose Of Falvelon heading into tomorrow’s clash with rising star Oh So Adorable at Queanbeyan on Thursday.
Oh So Adorable will be lining up for her sixth win in seven starts in the $20,000 Queanbeyan Quickie over 1000m after a brilliant win by the three-year-old filly in record time at Gundagai's Snake Guly Cup carnival.
However Olive is certain the year older Rose Of Falvelon has the speed and ability to test Oh So Adorable, trained on the Queanbeyan track by Gary Clarke.
“My mare is fantastic. She’s done really well and I’m comfortable where she’s at,” Olive suggested.
However Olive is concerned that Rose Of Falvelon is racing on the tricky Queanbeyan circuit for the first time.
“It’s a tricky race,” he admitted. “Garry Clarke’s horse Oh So Adorable is in hot form and has obvious ability and she has won at Queanbeyan before.
“Rose Of Falvelon has never been to Queanbeyan and that’s always a concern.
“In saying that I think my mare will be right in the finish.
“It would be exciting if she could come out and win then go on with it.
“She’ll probably head to Sydney next start. We were going there first up but the race we had picked out was too strong so we decided on the Queanbeyan option.”
Rose Of Falvelon, by Falvelon out of Run For Roses, was got as a yearling at the Magic Million sales for $18,000 and raced by a syndicate headed by Jamie Walter of Proven Thoroughbreds.
The four-year-old mare has recorded four wins from seven starts earning $35,725 prizemoney.
Rose Of Falvelon hasn’t raced since her three lengths sixth to Prettyfamous over 1100m at Canterbury on July 10.
The mare bolted in by 10 lengths at her previous start over 1080m at Canberra on June 28 and scored first-up at the same track on June 7.
While she hasn’t trialled, Rose Of Falvelon has had the benefit of two jump outs.
“She led and won in the first jump out and box seated and won the second,” Olive revealed.
“That was the plan to try and teach her to take a sit when necessary.“I think she’s going better this preparation than before.
“She strengthened up a bit following the spell but the most pleasing aspect is she’s more relaxed in her work, not going as hard.
“She’s drawn a good barrier and she’ll jump and go forward then Wardy (jockey Brendan Ward) can make a decision from there.”