The Yarra Valley Cup’s rescheduling has prompted a shift in strategy for the Emma-Lee and David Browne-trained Basilinna.

Originally slated for last Sunday over 1950m, the Yarra Valley Cup was abandoned after the opening race due to rain and deteriorating track conditions.

To preserve the event, it has been converted into a benchmark 100 race and will now feature in an 11-race program at Moonee Valley this Saturday.

Basilinna was already entered for two other races – a benchmark 84 over 1500m and the Group 2 Sunline Stakes (1600m) – before the Cup was added to the lineup.

The Brownes had initially planned to start her campaign in the Sunline Stakes but opted for the Yarra Valley Cup despite the longer distance.

“I don’t know if she is a winning chance first-up, but so long as she’s hitting the line and showing that she still wants to be involved, that will please us,” Emma-Lee Browne said.

During the 2023 spring carnival, Basilinna delivered strong performances, securing third place in both the Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield and the VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington.

The following autumn, she nearly claimed victory second-up in the Kewney Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, marking her best result from four outings.

Despite high expectations last spring, her top performance from five races was a third-place finish in the Pinker Pinker Plate (2025m) at Cranbourne.

“We went back to the drawing board a little bit with her after the spring,” Browne said.

“We had been hoping she would come up like she had in the autumn last year and in the spring as a three-year-old, but just a few things weren’t quite right with her.

“It was probably more mental than anything else, so we gave her a good break and we’re hoping she’s back and her behaviour at The Valley on Tuesday morning was impeccable.

“We’ve got no plans for her after Saturday.

“She’s already taken us on an amazing ride, so hopefully we can enhance her pedigree.”