Trainer Ciaron Maher has been thrilled with the form displayed and results posted by Jameka through the Spring Racing Carnival so-far, but has conceded he is unsure how the talented filly will handle the wet conditions at Flemington in this afternoon’s Crown Oaks 2015.
Jameka remains outright favourite to win this afternoon’s Crown Oaks 2015. Photo: Adrienne Bicknell
Jameka has finished outside the first three only once through eight career starts so far, and returned this time for a credible third in the talent-rich Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) on September 5th before repeating the result in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) three weeks later.
Savaging the line for second in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) on October 10th, the Myboycharlie filly completed an ideal lead-in to the 2015 Crown Oaks when delivering a talented field which included subsequent Victoria Derby winner Tarzino defeat in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) a fortnight ago.
The Flemington track appears as though it will be rated a soft 6 by the time the Crown Oaks jumps this afternoon, and Maher told Racing Ahead that is the only query with his runner leading into the featured event.
“I’ve never had her on a track with any give in it. It’s a bit of an unknown,” Maher said.
“I’ve been very happy with her whole preparation.
“She’s just made steady improvement, each race has brought her on and hopefully she’s right to peak today.
“I think she’s a high-class filly that’s probably not bred to be an out-and-out stayer but all of her traits suggest that she should be able to handle a trip like that.”
Maher was impressed with Jameka’s performance in the Moonee Valley Vase particularly, and revealed he will leave a good deal of her Crown Oaks tactics to champion hoop Damien Oliver.
“We sort of mapped really well in that race, we were going to get the right run and Tarzino was always going to get back a bit and Moonee Valley can be hard to make ground,” Maher said.
“It was quite a strong win, I think it’s brought her on more and at 2500m they’re all a bit unknown out there but she gives me every indication she’s going to get the trip.
“She normally races somewhere around the speed but we’ll just be looking to get a bit of cover and get her switched off in the first half of the race.
“Then Damien can work it out from there. He knows her quite well because I think he’s ridden her three or four times so I’ll leave it up to him a bit.”
Allocated barrier 8 amongst a field of only eleven contestants, Jameka is currently available at 2015 Crown Oaks odds of $3.90 for success with Ladbrokes Australia.
