O'Brien buoyed by classy mare's courage

Trainer Danny O'Brien is dreaming big with former Perth mare Miss Rose De Lago following her excellent run in Saturday's Group 2 Let's Elope Stakes at Flemington.

The Group 3 winning daughter of Encosta De Lago finished fourth in the black-type event beaten less than half-a-length, pictured left in the Cerise silks.

"The set weights and penalties structure of the race and the 1400m distance were against her on Saturday, but she is such a high quality mare and she kept willing herself to the line and she has been unlucky to not run a placing," O'Brien said.

"The Let's Elope was a high-quality race, with some of the best mares in the country so it gives us confidence that she would more than hold her own in Group 1 company."

O'Brien is looking at the Group 1 Railway Stakes in her former home town as a possibility for the five-year-old.

"There are plenty of options for her and we would love to give her the opportunity down in the weights at the top level and the Railway could be a viable option."

Next up for Miss Rose De Lago will be the Group 3 Ladies Day Vase at Caulfield on October 14 over 1600m and O'Brien indicated that she would race during Melbourne Cup week at her start after, with her performance at Caulfield dictating which race she heads for in Cup week.

Photo by Gary Wild of Slickpix, to view Slickpix Vic website click here