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Harmony Rose and Miravalle set to clash in Vinery Stud Stakes
The Mark Newnham-trained pair Harmony Rose (Glass Harmonium) and Miravalle (Redoute’s Choice) are set to clash in the Vinery Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday, as the pair look to enhance their ATC Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) credentials.
Miravelle comes into the Group 1 having landed the Kembla Grange Classic (Gr 3, 1600m) on March 12, while Harmony Rose was last sighted running third in the Randwick Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) on March 6.
"It toughened her (Miravalle) up for this prep,'' Newnham said.
"She didn't have a lot of luck a couple of times and when she got to Melbourne she ran well both times but it was the end of a long prep.
"(Kembla) was a confidence boost for horse and trainer. I've always thought she was a stakes class filly and a good stakes class filly so to see her put them away was pleasing."
Newnham said he didn't have to change a lot with Miravalle, more learn about her, but time has been an ally and the three-year-old is now more mature.
"It was just a matter of tinkering a little bit with her work and she responded to it,'' he said.
"The best part of her win was she committed to taking a gap and hit the line strongly.
"She has a nice enough draw where she will be settling somewhere in the middle of them if not three parts of the way back. I would think she will be pretty hard to beat.”
Miravalle is the outsider of Newnham's duo at $12 with TAB while Harmony Rose is $2.70 favourite for the Group 1.
"Harmony Rose’s gallop on Wednesday morning reflected that so I'd be pretty keen on her chances,'' he said.
"She was fantastic first-up and even better second-up considering she came from a midweek win and that form has been franked last Saturday. I'd be disappointed if she's not right in the finish."
He said gate one is ideal for Harmony Rose who has proven in her five starts to date she has the early speed to take advantage of an inside marble.
"I was really keen for her to draw well. She's not a great beginner but can muster quite quickly after that,'' Newnham said.
"She'll get into a midfield spot, maybe closer depending on the pace of the race so that will suit her."
