VRC OAKS WINNER NEARING RETURN

Group One VRC Oaks winner Miami Bound will ramp up preparations towards her return when she contests a Flemington jump-out.

The three-year-old filly played her part in a memorable Melbourne Cup carnival for trainer Danny O’Brien last spring, winning both the Group Two Wakeful Stakes and Group One VRC Oaks.

O’Brien also won the Melbourne Cup with Vow And Declare.

Miami Bound is scheduled to go around in a jump-out at Flemington on Friday in preparation for a return at Caulfield next month in the Group Two Autumn Classic on a path to Group One targets in Sydney.

“She’s going super,” O’Brien said.

“She’s furnished into a lovely autumn three-year-old filly and she hasn’t put a foot wrong since the Oaks.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what she can do for us in the autumn.

“She’ll probably run first-up on Blue Diamond day in the 1800-metre Group Two for three-year-olds and then maybe the Alister Clark Stakes at The Valley second-up.

“Then she’ll head up to Sydney for the Vinery and the Oaks.

“She actually came out of Cup week in great order even though she raced twice and she’s just thrived the whole summer.”

The $1 million Australian Oaks (2400m) is at Randwick on April 11 with Miami Bound and the Chris Waller-trained Funstar the $6 equal early favourites.

Story by AAP

Pic by Racing Photos