The odds of Kiwi filly Scarlett Lady lining up in the Group One Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm have shortened but a final decision won't be made until after an inspection by trainer Graeme Rogerson on Wednesday.Rogerson ordered a blood count to be taken from the filly but the result won't be the determining factor in whether the filly starts in Saturday's 2400-metre feature."I had a blood count done on her and I'll get the result of that tonight but there will be no decision made until I see her
The odds of Kiwi filly Scarlett Lady lining up in the Group One Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm have shortened but a final decision won't be made until after an inspection by trainer Graeme Rogerson on Wednesday.
Rogerson ordered a blood count to be taken from the filly but the result won't be the determining factor in whether the filly starts in Saturday's 2400-metre feature.
"I had a blood count done on her and I'll get the result of that tonight but there will be no decision made until I see her at trackwork tomorrow," Rogerson said from New Zealand.
"I'm leaving the final decision up to her owner, Max Whitby, as I also train and bred the favourite for the Derby, Shootoff.
"I've had a long talk with Max and I think he's now leaning to running her."
Whitby and Rogerson's co-trainer, his wife Debbie, said following Scarlett Lady's Queensland Oaks victory on Saturday they preferred to spell the filly to concentrate on the Melbourne spring carnival.
"I'm not sure what sort of work the filly will do tomorrow but Deb will ride her before she goes back to New Zealand while I stay on over there to look after the two horses for the Derby," Rogerson said.
Rogerson and Whitby flew back to New Zealand after the Queensland Oaks and won the McGregor Grant Steeplechase (4150m) in Auckland on Monday with Mr Align.
Mr Align will head to England next year to represent New Zealand in the Grand National Steeplechase at Aintree.
"Mr Align is a very good jumper and he's done enough to earn an invitation for the Grand National," Rogerson said.
"John Wheeler is a very close friend and he's taking a team of jumpers to England next year so I'll probably give Mr Align to him to train while he's over there."
Meanwhile, a 1000-metre gallop at Eagle Farm on Wednesday will also decide if connections of Oaks third placegetter, Kiwi filly Shez Sinsational, pay a $27,000 late entry to start in Saturday's Queensland Derby.
Trainer Allan Sharrock, one of five part-owners of the daughter of Ekraar, believes the fillies look to have the wood on the male three-year-olds this season.
"She's done extremely well and had a good blow after the Oaks so there's a bit of improvement still in her," Sharrock said.
"I'll know more after she gallops at Eagle Farm tomorrow but I'll be talking with all her owners tonight to get an indication of what to do.
"I own a share with my father and there's five owners who will have a say so there won't be any deadlock.
"The late fee is $27,000 and that's like a good bet at the casino."
Victorian filly Heidilicious has passed a barrier test in front of stewards at Doomben and is a definite starter in the Queensland Derby with Jim Byrne her new rider.
Heidilicious, a fast-finishing fifth in the Oaks, was fitted with a barrier blanket and a tongue tie before jumping away cleanly in the 820-metre trial.