Valley Suits O’Brien’s Dato Tan Chin Stakes Miss

Last start P.B. Lawrence Stakes winning mare Miss Rose De Lago is set to appreciate a run at Moonee Valley Racecourse second-up according to trainer Danny O’Brien who is full of pre-Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes 2016 confidence.

Miss Rose De Lago shoots for back-to-back spring wins in Saturday’s Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes 2016 at Moonee Valley Racecourse. Photo; Adrienne Bicknell.

The six-year-old daughter of Encosta De Lago kicked off her Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival bid in winning style back on August 13 with a half-length victory in Caulfield’s Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m).

That was her first run back since her ninth to Azkadellia in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) back in April.

O’Brien was thrilled with his mare’s first-up success and likes her chances of going back-to-back when she runs again on Saturday in the $250,000 Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m).

Three weeks between runs is the ideal spacing for Miss Rose De Lago according to her trainer and she also has winning form at the track.

“The three weeks [between runs] has been perfect – it was a pretty tough run first-up,” O’Brien told Racing Victoria after the mare galloped at Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning.

“We didn’t do much with her for the week or so afterwards, but she’s a big, strong, gross mare that cops the work and racing really well.”

Miss Rose De Lago’s latest start at the Valley was in late March when she beat home Noble Protector by a smart 2.75 lengths in the Group 2 Sunline Stakes (1600m).

She’s back out over a mile again on the weekend, a distance she boasts three wins and a second from nine previous starts over, which is another advantage according to O’Brien.

”She’s been here a couple of times to gallop before races, and always enjoys it here,” he said.

“Her last run here was over a mile, where she was very good winning the Sunline Stakes, so she certainly doesn’t mind coming to Moonee Valley.

“She’ll improve coming into Saturday, and 1600m second-up is perfect for her.

“The Lawrence was the start of the spring, and every week you’re going to get a stronger field.

“Her win in the Sunline was quite dominant in the autumn, and if she brings that form on Saturday, she’ll be very hard to beat.”

The Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes is known as an unofficial qualifier for Moonee Valley’s most famous race – the $3.5 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) – run back at the track this year on October 22.

Miss Rose De Lago holds a 2016 Cox Plate nomination but is only rated an $81 chance in all-in markets at Ladbrokes.com.au led by the Chris Waller-trained Winx ($2.50).

Winx won last year’s Cox Plate in historical form and this weekend has her next start towards a title defence in the weight-for-age classic aiming for an eleventh straight win in Sydney’s Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m).

Under the WFA conditions of the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes, Miss Rose De Lago carries 57kg.

Equal 59kg top-weights in the race are the Darren Weir-trained Japanese import Tosen Stardom and the returning Robert Hickmott-trained Ranvet Stakes winner The United States in his first run since his second in the $4 million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) in Sydney.

To check out the full markets for this weekend’s racing and the early Group 1 racing odds head to our preferred online sportsbook Ladbrokes.com.au now!