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Big step up for Night Of Thunder filly
Talented filly Hela (Night Of Thunder) will put her unbeaten record on the line when she takes a big step up in class in the Australasian Oaks (Gr 1, 2000m) at Morphettville on May 1.
The Scott Brunton-trained daughter of Night Of Thunder (Dubawi) has won all of seven of her career starts, including the Strutt Stakes (Listed, 2100m) on February 7 and was most recently seen winning over 1600 metres at Hobart last Sunday.
"She did what I expected her to do today and now we just have to keep her ticking over and hope we can get her to South Australia safe and sound," Brunton said.
Hela will be flown to Melbourne and then embark on a road trip to Adelaide.
"We've arranged to fly her and a mate to Melbourne and then they will be floated to Adelaide and we have arranged for her to be settled in at stables near Morphettville.
"Street Tough will be her travel companion and he will remain in Adelaide to contest some races, but Hela has only one target and that's the Australasian Oaks."
Hela is likely to line-up in the Group 1 alongside Saturday's Auraria Stakes (Listed, 1800m) winner Tyche Goddess (Teofilo).
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained filly ran third in the Wakeful Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m) at Flemington on October 31, before finishing a disappointing 13th of 14 runners in the VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) on November 5.
"She was super in the Wakeful in the Spring and in the Oaks she ended up leading and being vulnerable and went a little bit too hard," Young told http://Racing.com.
"We brought her back after the Spring and gave her a good break and this has always been on the target for her heading onto an Adelaide Oaks.
"She got home last night (Sunday), has eaten up well, so we will just tick her over for the next week and have another bit of fast work the following week and she will be going into the Oaks in good order hopefully.
"It was great for Des Pope and Dianna, those colours have been around racing a long time and it was really nice to get that stakes Group 3 win with that filly," Young explained.
"It was really good to see Thomas Stockdale ride her, I think we have really helped shape his career early on and it's good for him to get that first Group win aboard one of our horses."
