Trainer Donna Logan has revealed that she would prefer to run talented filly Telepathic in the 2014 Queensland Derby rather than the Queensland Oaks during the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.
Telepathic finished a narrow second behind Amexed in the Rough Habit Plate at Doomben last weekend. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Telepathic has been included in the nominations for both the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31 and the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at the same venue a week later and she is assured of a start in either race after finishing a promising second behind Amexed in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Logan told The Informant that she will weigh up her options before making a final decision on which race to target with Telepathic, but confirmed that the Mossman filly was likely to have her next race start in the Group 2 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Doomben on May 24.
“My preference is to run her in two weeks’ time in the Grand Prix and then another two weeks to the Derby,” Logan said.
“The option is to wait three weeks and go straight to the Oaks, but I just feel with the other option through the Grand Prix she would hit the 2400 metres a lot fitter and ready.”
Telepathic made up plenty of ground late in her Australian racing debut in the Rough Habit Plate last weekend and Logan was delighted that her decision to run the three-year-old against the colts had paid off.
The Group 1 winning trainer believes that Telepathic has taken plenty of benefit out of the run and will head into her next race start in excellent condition.
“I was more or less forced to run her in the Rough Habit rather than wait for next Saturday’s Doomben Roses,” Logan said.
“We knew we were safe for a start on Saturday and her low stake-earnings she might have left us high and dry if we had waited.
“I couldn’t be happier with how she ran, she was two gallops short and still very fresh, so to see her finish the race off and go so close was awesome.
“She had a good puff afterwards but she went home and licked her feed-bowl clean on Saturday night and next morning I could see she had tightened up just as you would want.”
Telepathic ($4.60) is currently a narrow favourite in 2014 Queensland Oaks betting markets and is battling for favouritism in 2014 Queensland Derby betting markets with Hera ($8), Arabian Gold ($8) and Amexed ($8).
