Highlad
Race Images Palmerston North
Damien Oliver will need all his skill and guile to give Highlad his best possible chance at Caulfield on Saturday.
The champion jockey will guide the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained three-year-old from the outside gate against a strong line-up in the Gr.3 Ladbrokes Classic.
Oliver and Highlad also drew wide when they combined to finish third last time out in the Listed UCI Stakes, but Baker won't be weighing the champion jockey down with pre-race instructions.
"We will leave it up to Ollie," Baker said. "He's won 105 Group One races."
Highlad has had only three starts with his domestic form including a victory in the Listed Wanganui Guineas before heading to Melbourne.
"We are pretty happy with him," Baker said. "He has taken improvement from his last run.
"He did a lot of work into a strong wind last start. It was also his first run for a month and he stuck on well. I think he's a pretty good horse."
Another bold showing from Highlad on Saturday would confirm his place in the Gr.1 VRC Derby.
"He coped with a good track at Flemington, but would be suited by the jar being out of the track," Baker said. "A bit of rain wouldn't hurt him."
Oliver will also partner Highlad's stablemate Eleonora in the Gr.3 Ethereal Stakes.
The Makfi filly Eleonora was never clear when she was unplaced in the Gr.2 Edward Manifold Stakes over a mile at her last start and she is being aimed at the Gr.1 VRC Oaks.
"We are pretty happy with her and we do think she's a stayer," Baker said.
Oliver is in good form having won the Gr.3 Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield on Wednesday, but it came at a heavy cost with a 20 meeting suspension, to be served after Saturday, on a reckless riding charge over an incident 700 metres from home.
"I was shocked to be honest. There's no way it was reckless riding," Oliver said. "I'll be putting in an appeal and I'll take it from there." – NZ Racing Desk.
The champion jockey will guide the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained three-year-old from the outside gate against a strong line-up in the Gr.3 Ladbrokes Classic.
Oliver and Highlad also drew wide when they combined to finish third last time out in the Listed UCI Stakes, but Baker won't be weighing the champion jockey down with pre-race instructions.
"We will leave it up to Ollie," Baker said. "He's won 105 Group One races."
Highlad has had only three starts with his domestic form including a victory in the Listed Wanganui Guineas before heading to Melbourne.
"We are pretty happy with him," Baker said. "He has taken improvement from his last run.
"He did a lot of work into a strong wind last start. It was also his first run for a month and he stuck on well. I think he's a pretty good horse."
Another bold showing from Highlad on Saturday would confirm his place in the Gr.1 VRC Derby.
"He coped with a good track at Flemington, but would be suited by the jar being out of the track," Baker said. "A bit of rain wouldn't hurt him."
Oliver will also partner Highlad's stablemate Eleonora in the Gr.3 Ethereal Stakes.
The Makfi filly Eleonora was never clear when she was unplaced in the Gr.2 Edward Manifold Stakes over a mile at her last start and she is being aimed at the Gr.1 VRC Oaks.
"We are pretty happy with her and we do think she's a stayer," Baker said.
Oliver is in good form having won the Gr.3 Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield on Wednesday, but it came at a heavy cost with a 20 meeting suspension, to be served after Saturday, on a reckless riding charge over an incident 700 metres from home.
"I was shocked to be honest. There's no way it was reckless riding," Oliver said. "I'll be putting in an appeal and I'll take it from there." – NZ Racing Desk.
