In Brief
- Hela keeps her unbeaten record intact.
- Scott Brunton-trained filly to take winning form into Group 1 Australasian Oaks.
- Pires declares filly is a genuine Group 1 prospect.
It was only a field of four, but the way star three-year-old filly Hela went about winning a benchmark 84 handicap over 1600m in Hobart on Sunday said more than what the photo expressed as she crossed the line well clear of the opposition.
The Scott Brunton-trained filly made it seven wins in succession, and it paves the way for her to travel to South Australia to contest the $502,000 Group 1 Australasian Oaks over 2000m at Morphettville on Saturday week.
Hela has yet to taste defeat and while stepping up to Group 1 level is a big ask, her trainer and her rider David Pires are upbeat about her chances.
“She did what I expected her to do today and now we just have to keep her ticking over and hope we can get her to South Australia safe and sound,” Brunton said.
Hela will be flown to Melbourne and then embark on a road trip to Adelaide.
“We’ve arranged to fly her and a mate to Melbourne and then they will be floated to Adelaide and we have arranged for her to be settled in at stables near Morphettville.
“Street Tough will be her travel companion and he will remain in Adelaide to contest some races, but Hela has only one target and that’s the Australasian Oaks.”
Pires has been aboard the filly for all seven wins, and he says the daughter of Night of Thunder should go into the Australasian Oaks at her peak.
“This filly has class written all over her and I have no doubt that she is my best chance to win a Group 1,” Pires said after the filly’s latest win.
“She just floats and while she delivers really quick sectionals, she doesn’t feel like she’s travelling that quickly.
“I believe she has improved with every run this time in, and I am very excited about her chances in the Adelaide race.”
Watch Hela make a one-act affair of a benchmark 84 handicap in Hobart on Sunday.