Trainer Noel Doyle will let top filly Aimee shape her own spring destiny.
Nominated for the Furious Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, Aimee will instead resume against easier opposition in the Boston Salon Handicap at Doomben.
Aimee is entered for the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on October 11 and the Caulfield Classic on October 18 but a trip to Melbourne hasn’t been confirmed.
Doyle is one of Queensland’s most experienced trainers but his Melbourne excursions have been rare.
His best win in Melbourne came with Palidamah in the Hong Kong Plate at Flemington more than a decade ago.
“It is a long way to go and an even longer way to walk home. You need to have a horse who is firing before you even consider going down there,” Doyle said.
“I have long-held the theory that I won’t go to Melbourne unless I think we can be competitive.”
Aimee ran third in a barrier trial behind smart sprinter Final Crescendo at the Gold Coast on August 21.
It was her first public hit-out since she ran 13th to Time For War in the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Doomben on May 21.
Before her Sires’ flop, Aimee had won four races in a row including the Group Three Ken Russell Memorial.
“If she runs well we are off to Melbourne. If not, there are plenty of races at home for her,” Doyle said.
Doyle insists there was added merit to Aimee’s juvenile record because she had to overcome bad barriers. She will start from the inside gate for her return.
Senior rider Jason Taylor was on Aimee in most of her seven starts last season but in-form apprentice Matt McGuren takes over on Saturday.
A Doomben win might not be Aimee’s only victory on Saturday.
She is a three-way battle with Flemington winner Oakleigh Girl and Group One-placed Looks Like The Cat for the honour of being named Queensland Two Year Old of the Year.
“It would be nice to win as she was so consistent but it is a strong line up of contenders,” Doyle said.
