The Michael Nolan trained Exotique Miss continues to go from strength to strength and her latest win … and best win to date … in the Listed Daybreak Lover at Eagle Farm over 1400m last Saturday keeps her firmly on a path to tackle the Group 1 Queensland Oaks on June 8.
“I know she is in the Stradbroke betting … but we want to go to the Princess Stakes and back up over the mile next week and then go towards the Oaks,” Nolan said post-race after that victory.
Here we are a week later, and Nolan must be wondering what he has done to offend the barrier gods.
“Last week, during the week we drew barrier 18 (which came into barrier 14 on race-day). Now, Exotique Miss has drawn barrier 23 out of the 23 nominated runners for the Princess Stakes on Saturday.
“I sent a few texts out to the boys last week and said it was a terrible alley. They agreed that we were still going. That’s part of the plan, so that’s why we were at Eagle Farm then … and why we will be there on Saturday.
“We are just following the plan … and, as I’ve said before with this horse, if we waited for a barrier ,she’d still be a maiden. We’ll be running.
“We dead-set want to try her as a stayer over ground. She is a three-year-old filly once in her life … so that’s our plan … to head towards the Oaks.”
Nolan has every right to be aiming high with Exotique Miss.
The daughter of Stradbroke winner Under The Louvre is now a four-time winner from nine starts … with two runner-up finishes … and her rate of progress in her three runs to date this year could not have been more impressive.
Exotique Miss has won all three of those starts … firstly, posting a clearcut sign of intent when embarrassing her opposition when winning by no less than 10,50 lengths in a BM65 Handicap over 1500m. Then followed another clearcut win by 2.50 lengths in a Quality Handicap over 1200m on April 6 … and it was all rounded off very nicely when Exotique Miss completed a hat trick of wins in the Daybreak Lover.
As good as the other wins were, the Daybreak Lover win took Exotique Miss ($5) to the next level.
Having the means to overcome the disadvantage of a bad draw, and the commitment to do it at both ends when she became embroiled in a punishing stride for stride battle over the last 200m … this after making an early dash for home over the long Eagle Farm straight.
To win four-in-a-row, on a seven-day back-up in Listed company is no easy task, but Exotique Miss is doing everything asked of her at this stage … so, doubt her, if you will, but at your peril.
