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Our Intrigue heads for a spell

Group Two performer Our Intrigue will head to the spelling paddock after her unplaced run in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben last Saturday.

The Tony Pike-trained three-year-old was heading into the race off the back of a winning performance over 2200m at the Sunshine Coast last month, but Pike said the Oaks test may have been a race too far for his filly.

“She probably just came to the end of her preparation,” he said. “She’s going to head to the spelling paddock, she has been up a long time and did a good job to get into the Oaks.

“I think a couple of runs on heavy tracks just took its toll and she raced like a bit of a flat racehorse on Saturday in the Oaks unfortunately.”

The daughter of Showcasing, who was purchased for $70,000 by bloodstock agent Paul Moroney out of Haunui Farm’s 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale draft, won three of her eight starts this season, and was runner-up in the Gr.2 Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie in April.

Pike was pleased with her three-year-old season and is looking forward to seeing what she can do as a four-year-old.

“She’s a nice filly on her first preparation and I am sure she will keep for next season,” he said.