Trainer Simon Miller is confident that talented mare Miss Rose De Lago can return to winning form in the 2014 Jungle Dawn Classic at Ascot on Saturday.
Tommy Berry will partner Miss Rose De Lago in the 2014 Jungle Dawn Classic at Ascot this weekend. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Miss Rose De Lago was the star filly of the 2013 Perth Summer Racing Carnival after she took out the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) and the Group 3 Western Australian Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) before finishing second behind Ihtsahymn in the Group 2 Western Australian Guineas (1600m), but has failed to record a black type victory this preparation.
The Encosta De Lago filly was sent to the spelling paddock after she performed well without winning in three race starts during the 2014 Melbourne Festival Of Racing and she returned to racing with a second place finish in a benchmark 66 event at Belmont Park on September 27 before she took out a benchmark 78 race at the same venue on October 11.
Miss Rose De Lago returned to Stakes level with a second place finish behind Fuchsia Bandana in the Group 3 Northerly Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on October 18 and finished a disappointing sixth in the Group 3 R.J. Peters Stakes (1500m) on November 15 before she tired late when fourth in the Listed Jungle Mist Classic (1400m) at Ascot on Super Saturday.
Miller said that he was impressed with the way Miss Rose De Lago toughed it out to the line after doing plenty of work in the early stages of the Jungle Mist Classic and told Racing Ahead that he is confident she can return to her best form with a slightly easier run in the early stages of the Jungle Dawn Classic this weekend.
“She was brave the other day,” Miller said.
“Luke never got any peace and they just kept attacking her from everywhere.
“She was still there 100 out and just knocked up late, so I thought that she was very brave.
“She has drawn two, but I would love to draw outside with her so she doesn’t have to be hustled and bustled.
“If we can just work into the race and build momentum without being pestered then I think she will run well, but if there is a hot tempo we will just take a sit.
“She has been unlucky her past couple and yet she hasn’t been far away, so I think that she can turn around and be hard to hold out on Saturday.”
Miss Rose De Lago will carry the top weight of 59 kilograms in the Jungle Dawn Classic, while her 12 rivals in the Listed event will carry four kilograms less with 55 kilograms on their backs.
