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Group 1 winner aims for top-flight victory number two

Personal (Fastnet Rock) will look to add another Group 1 to her CV when she tackles the Vinery Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday. 

A winner of the VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) last November, the Lindsay Park-trained daughter of Fastnet Rock (Danehill) has run well in two starts this preparation, resuming with a second place finish in the Vanity Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m), while she was last seen finishing third in the AV Kewney Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m). 

Leading Sydney jockey James Mcdonald  replaces Oaks winning jockey Damien Oliver on Personal and co-trainer Tom Dabernig said it was the call of the Coolmore team, who own the filly, to book McDonald for the ride. 

"Coolmore have been delighted with what Damien has done, it's just that when in Sydney they prefer a Sydney jockey," Dabernig said. 

"It was not our call, but I'm happy to support what they want to do, but if it was (our call) I probably would have preferred Damien, only because he knows her so well. But they're both top of the tree jockeys." 

Drawing the outside barrier in the ten-horse field Dabernig said was awkward, especially with the Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) at Randwick on April 17 looming. 

"I think we'll give McDonald an open book and let him work it out," Dabernig said. 

"There's a temptation with the Oaks in two weeks to ride her quietly. 

"But she's in such good shape and capable of winning, if we do have to roll forward and sit outside the lead, I'm not against that, especially if that gives her the best chance of winning."