A Lesson to Learn By

A Lesson to Learn By.At Doomben on May 16 there are two fillies running in different races.One is in the third race and won her last start. She beat the other filly, which has been targeted at the fifth race.One has had several runs in since February, the other has had only four runs since a spell (the first was in March, after four months off the scene), building up her distances 14-14-16-18.Both started from terrible gates last start at the Gold Coast and they hammered at each other all the wa

A Lesson to Learn By.

At Doomben on May 16 there are two fillies running in different races.

One is in the third race and won her last start. She beat the other filly, which has been targeted at the fifth race.

One has had several runs in since February, the other has had only four runs since a spell (the first was in March, after four months off the scene), building up her distances 14-14-16-18.

Both started from terrible gates last start at the Gold Coast and they hammered at each other all the way down the straight. There was a neck at the finish. Quality filly Miss Darcey ran third, a length away. They both deserved to wilt, but neither did.

On May 16, one, Marveen, has slipped back to 1600 metres (weight for age, all ages) and is clearly after the Queensland Guineas later on. The other, La Etoile, is being tested for her chances in the Oaks (and even the Derby - last year a filly won both). She's racing over 2020 metres.

The results of these two fillies' efforts might well determine order of favouritism for later big races. They will certainly decide which way La Etoile heads.

The Friday markets suggest $5 Marveen and $11+ La Etoile. I doubt that latter price, but who can say?

Whatever the results, the lesson for us is the same: two fillies, virtually together over the line a fortnight back at level weights in very strong class, take on two entirely different sorts of fields on May 16. The serious decisions that are then made will teach us all just a little bit more about the science of watching young horses' placement.

á

á