Kelly Schweida is hoping Miss Joelene can channel her most decorated descendant when the filly enters unchartered territory in this Saturday’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm.
By Russian Revolution out of the More Than Ready mare Cellargirl, Miss Joelene’s immediate family suggest she would be more suited in a Group 1 sprint race than a three-year-old Classic.
But she hails from a family that includes Triscay, who was a star sprinting two-year-old who stretched her brilliance out to win the ATC Oaks and Queensland Oaks in 1991.
“She’s by Russian Revolution from a More Than Ready mare, but on the mother’s side there’s a bit of staying pedigree,” Schweida said.
“That might help us, but we’ll find out this week.”
Triscay is a half-sister to Miss Joelene’s third dam Dane Vintage, whose daughter Vintner produced ATC Oaks runner-up Perfect Drop.
Further adding to Schweida’s optimism that the $20,000 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale purchase might be an Oaks factor is that Queensland’s version is now run over 2200m, not the 2400m race it was in Triscay’s era.
Miss Joelene’s three wins have been up to 1350m and she finished sixth in the Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) two starts ago but she caught the eye when flashing home out wide under James Orman when third in the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) at her final Oaks lead-up.
She was beaten just three-quarters-of-a-length by Oaks favourite Scarlet Oak despite enduring much tougher run.
“Jimmy said he got in the right part of the track but he had to lose three or four lengths going out there and he just had to get going a bit earlier because of where she was with the bad alley,” Schweida said.
“It’s lucky it’s 2200 not 2400m, I suppose, but she’s going good and she’s really trained on since the race the other day.”
Orman retains the ride for the Oaks but again has a wide barrier to contend with after Miss Joelene came up with the second-widest barrier in the field of 18.