Twelve months ago, Australian Derby winner Explosive Jack took an unorthodox route to the blue riband via the Tasmanian Derby and James Cummings is hoping filly Honeycreeper can achieve something similar.
Like Explosive Jack, the Australian Oaks hopeful has done her recent racing interstate and heads to Saturday’s Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill off a third placing in the Tasmanian Oaks.
It wasn’t quite the result Godolphin had been seeking but Honeycreeper did pick up some black-type and Cummings believes having a 2100m run under her belt might start to become significant if the Rosehill track tips into the heavy range on Saturday.
“I’m not sure if she would be better placed in the Adrian Knox (Stakes) the following week, but it’s an open race,” Cummings said.
“If it’s a very heavy track and if you’re looking for horses that at least have form over 2000 and beyond, then she starts to get a little interesting in this race.
“We’ve got our feet on the ground and it looks a big jump for her, but just for those reasons I mentioned, perhaps she could improve many lengths on her performance in the Tasmanian Oaks.”
Honeycreeper is the only Vinery runner dropping back in distance while 12 of her 14 rivals face a rise in journey of 400 metres or more.
They include $4.20 equal favourites Hinged, a last-start third against the older mares in the Coolmore Classic (1500m), and Gypsy Goddess who is coming off a first-up win over a mile at Eagle Farm.
