Team behind Vinery Stud Stakes contender Panova have always viewed the filly as suited to longer distances, making her dual stakes successes at shorter trips an unexpected delight.
She capped her autumn campaign with successive Group 3 triumphs in the Reginald Allen (1400m) and Carbine Club Stakes (1600m), with the three-year-old showing improvement in her latest two outings, notably a strong-finishing fifth in the Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) on March 14.
Owned by Ricky Surace’s B2B Thoroughbreds, Panova steps up to a mid-distance assignment for the first time in Saturday’s Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill, and Chris Waller’s key assistant Charlie Duckworth is eager to gauge her capabilities.
“Ricky Surace, they do the gene testing and the blood testing, and it all indicates she is a proper stayer,” Duckworth said.
“So they were rapt in the spring when she won the Carbine Club the way she did. They said, ‘she’s not even meant to be doing this yet, she is meant for an Oaks trip’.”
“Obviously, she is going to have to be very good to beat Ohope Wins, but if she is a genuine stayer, the 2400 (of the Australian Oaks next start) should see a fair match.”
Tommy Berry retains the ride on Panova, having been aboard for her pair of black-type victories and her most recent run where she signalled a desire for more ground.
“I was really happy with the way she found the line last start, and she’s not going to be giving as much of a start this time around with the smaller field,” Berry said.
“She probably doesn’t want it too wet, but she’s warming up to something.”
Panova sits fourth in Vinery Stud Stakes betting at $6, with Ohope Wins heading the market at $2.90 ahead of Salty Pearl at $3.60.
The Victorian raider boasts credentials via her association with dominant Randwick Guineas victor Sheza Alibi, while Belle Cheval holds steady at $3.80 following a narrow second to undefeated New Zealand filly Well Written in her latest appearance.
Explore the online bookmakers for competitive markets on the Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill.
