Star filly to miss Victoria Oaks

CONNECTIONS of tonight’s Australian Pacing Gold Sovereign winner Madrid will resist the lure of interstate riches to focus on local features.

Although the Victoria Oaks shapes as an ideal target for the high quality filly, trainer Jarrod Alchin stated Madrid will not travel south for the Blue Riband.

Heats of the classic are scheduled to be run at Tabcorp Park Melton next week, with the Final the following weekend, however, Alchin explained the “timing is just not right”.

Instead the three-year-old will be primed for the New South Wales Breeders’ Challenge later in the month and the Breeders’ Blue in November.

“I would have liked to have a shot at the Victoria Oaks with her, but the timing is just not right,” Alchin said. “It would mean her racing down there the next two Saturday nights and then being back here for the Breeders’ Challenge heats straight after.

“Several hard runs, plus travel, is just too much, so we’ll stick to the two main races close to home.”

As for her latest triumph, Madrid was in a class of her own as she successfully defended her title from last season.

With Cameron Hart in the cart, Madrid led throughout from barrier seven to complete an eight-a-half metre win from Dance With Somebody, with Lady Delight three-and-a-half metres away third.

“She’s got blistering gate speed, so she was always going to go forward at the start,” Alchin said. “Once she got to the lead she did it as easily as she pleased.”

Covering the mile in 1:53.7, Madrid provided Alchin and Hart with an APG double after the pair secured the colts’ and geldings’ division with My Ultimate Ronnie.

Also leading throughout, My Ultimate Ronnie scored by a metre-and-a-half from Mahones, with Muscle Bart three-and-a-half metres away third.

Stopping the clock in 1:51.6, the colt took his record to an impressive 11 wins and two placings from 16 starts for earnings of $99,712.