Trainer Liam Birchley has made an early call by engaging jockey Brad Stewart for Vietnam's Group One assignment in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Rosehill on Golden Slipper day.Birchley wanted to start Vietnam in last Saturday's Group One Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill, won brilliantly by the Peter Moody-trained Typhoon Tracy.However, the six-year-old's trip south was cancelled after Birchley failed to find a suitable rider for her in Sydney.Instead Vietnam remained in Brisbane and clinch
Trainer Liam Birchley has made an early call by engaging jockey Brad Stewart for Vietnam's Group One assignment in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Rosehill on Golden Slipper day.
Birchley wanted to start Vietnam in last Saturday's Group One Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill, won brilliantly by the Peter Moody-trained Typhoon Tracy.
However, the six-year-old's trip south was cancelled after Birchley failed to find a suitable rider for her in Sydney.
Instead Vietnam remained in Brisbane and clinched an interstate trip for the 1500-metre Queen Of The Turf Stakes on Saturday week with an eye-catching second for Stewart behind Watchyerback over 1300 metres at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
Birchley won't know until early next week after nominations close for the Queen Of The Turf if Vietnam will make the field.
"She should have no problem making the field as she was eighth or ninth in order for the Coolmore," Birchley said.
"Her run last Saturday was very good and she would have troubled the winner with a clear run.
"She had to wait a stride or two in the straight and lost momentum while the winner had a head full of steam.
"It was only her second run this preparation and that run will really bring her on."
Birchley won't decide whether Vietnam remains in Sydney for the Group One Doncaster Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on April 18 until he sees how the mare performs in the Queen Of The Turf.
Vietnam proved during last year's Brisbane winter carnival she was a worthy autumn contender by winning the Group Three Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm in May.
She then stormed home from last to finish seventh, beaten 4-1/4 lengths, to Absolut Glam in the Group One Winter Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June.
Meanwhile, Ice Chariot will continue with his Sydney Cup mission despite his flop in last Saturday's Group One Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.
Stewards said Ice Chariot would have to barrier trial before being allowed to start again and vetted the six-year-old after he was beaten more than 30 lengths when eighth to the Gai Waterhouse-trained Theseo.
"He's barrier trialling in Sydney on Friday but he's pulled up well and will continue to head towards the Sydney Cup," trainer Ron Maund said.
"The vet went all over him and couldn't find anything wrong with him.
"It appears it was simply the wet track. He won the Queensland Derby on a rain-affected track but generally his breed don't handle the wet."
Maund is yet to finalise Ice Chariot's program before the Group One Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on Anzac Day but is likely to run the gelding next in the weight-for-age Group One BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday week.
The Ranvet Stakes was Ice Chariot's third run this campaign after returning from his Melbourne Cup campaign.
Ice Chariot finished 11th in the Melbourne Cup won by the Bart Cummings-trained Viewed in November.
In four Melbourne starts during the spring, Ice Chariot's best performance was his third to Gallopin in the Group Two Cathay Pacific (2500m) at Moonee Valley in October.