Beauty Secret is one of four Emma Stewart-trained runners team Miles must overcome for Vicbred glory at Tabcorp Park this Friday night
Husband and wife team David and Lisa Miles take three runners into Friday night’s Empire Stallions Vicbred Super Series 3YO Fillies’ Final.
Ourbellabro, Nats Survival and Braeview Creation will line up in the $100,000 Group 1, all aiming to bring the trophy home to the Miles’ Monegeetta property.
David Miles, who will drive Ourbellabro in the race, says Braeview Creation is the class runner of the trio.
However, as was the case leading into the Oaks a month ago, the outside-back-row draw makes it tough for the Badlands Hanover filly, who will be steered by Lisa Miles.
“She drew 13 of 13 in the Oaks and she’s drawn 13 of 13 again here so we’ve got some happy owners,” David joshed.
“She’s the class runner of our three but she has to deal with the barrier, so she just needs there to be a hectic pace on early. She’ll be wide at some stage and working around them.”
Braeview Creation was specked at a price last week before a hard-working sixth behind Beauty Secret in a semi-final that became a staying test when David pushed Ourbellabro to the front mid-race. This left Braeview Creation on her lonesome out three-wide and she wasn’t able to overcome covering the extra ground.
David admitted Ourbellabro would eventually need to learn to settle better in her races if she’s to realise her potential.
“She’s a big, strong filly, who likes to do what she wants,” he said.
“She looked as though she’d drop right out at the top of the straight last week but she stuck on really gamely.
“She’ll be hard to drive the way she ran the other night; she needs to learn to settle a bit better in her races.”
The Miles’ other runner in the fillies’ final is surprise packet Nats Survival, whose third place in the semis catapults her into Friday’s field.
A maiden, who has had just four starts, the Miles team is simply pleased she has been able to make a Group 1 final.
“It’s a real credit to her,” David said.
“She’s just going to keep getting better and better. She’s a half-sister to Pacific Charm and she’ll just keep improving.”
Another stable taking multiple runners into Friday night’s fillies’ final is the Emma Stewart barn at Smythes Creek.
Stewart puts the polish on four runners and holds the key to the race, with all four likely to be well tried by punters.
Whereas the Miles’ horses have drawn 11, 12 and 13, the Stewart quartet will start from two, three, four and eight.
Semi-final winner Shake It Mama has drawn inside the back row for driver Chris Alford, while The Good Times (fourth behind Shake It Mama in the semis) has snared barrier two for Gavin Lang, Hexham Heartbeat (second in the semi won by stablemate Beauty Secret) will be alongside in three for John Caldow, and Beauty Secret (a semi-final winner who made the most of the strong tempo up front last week) will come out of four for Daryl Douglas.
A quick glance at the form would suggest Beauty Secret will lead from four, with Hexham Heartbeat hoping to follow it across and find its stablemate’s back.
But David Miles isn’t so sure that’s how things will pan out.
”I think the pole horse, Majeur Le Crest, will come out really hard,” he said.
“She’s a good filly, and the driver (Andrew Clarke) won’t be keen to hand up easily. There could be fireworks early.”
Shake It Mama was super impressive last Friday, winning her heat in a canter by 6.9m after sailing away from her rivals at the top of the home straight.
If the pace is on early and she’s able to get a good run through, she’s likely to be the horse to beat again.
Other runners in the fillies’ final are Barry Dunn-trained Modern Art filly Modern Scooter, Clinton McSwain-trained daughter of Lombo Mandingo Miz Lulabell Lombo, Mt Cottrell-trained Born Again Sassy from the Bill Galea yard and the ever-improving Keith Cotchin-trained Dobop, who looks set to win a big race before too long.
The fillies’ final is the first leg of the daily double and is scheduled to jump at 8.12pm.