Ungrateful Ellen has been included in the 2015 South Australian Fillies Classic field and trainer Robert Smerdon is confident that the promising filly will have no problem running out the testing staying trip at Morphettville this weekend.
Ungrateful Ellen was included in the nominations for both the Group 3 SA Fillies Classic (2500m) and the Listed Centaurea Stakes (2000m), but Smerdon told Racing Ahead this morning that the fillies race had always been the major autumn target for the daughter of Grey Swallow.
There was plenty of betting support for Ungrateful Ellen in the lead-up to the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on May 2 and she could finish no better than fifth, but the three-year-old made up a great deal of ground in the final stages of the race – a performance that Smerdon believes indicates that Ungrateful Ellen will relish the step-up to 2500 metres this weekend.
“She runs in the Classic and that has always been her goal for the preparation,” Smerdon said.
“We went through the Australasian Oaks and she just finished outside the top four, but this has been her aim.
“She stays really well and last time in the Australasian Oaks was the first time since she has got out beyond 1600 and she finished off like we hoped that she would.
“She looks like she will run the extra without too much trouble.”
The Australasian Oaks is set to be the key form guide for the South Australian Fillies Classic and third placegetter Bahamas is also set to contest the $115,000 event at Morphettville this weekend.
Bahamas has worked through the grades impressively during her maiden racing campaign and she stamped herself as a horse to watch when she finished second behind Fontein Ruby in the Listed Alexandra Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on March 27.
The Teofilo filly produced another solid effort when she finished third in the Denis Walter Afternoons Trophy (1600m) at Flemington on April 11 and she battled on bravely in the final stages of the Australasian Oaks to finish third behind Delicacy and Fenway – form that was franked last weekend when Delicacy won the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m).
Try Your Best, Snow Secret, Kawabata, Monopole, Okahu Bay, Cinnamon Carter, Mighty Maher, Keep The Klass, Lispenard, Kiwi Colleen, Baja Moon, Dane Hussler and Crying Angel round out the 2015 South Australian Fillies Classic field.