Damien Oliver's last Thousand Guineas ride hanging by a thread
Impressive Geelong maiden winner Vibrant Sun could make the field for Saturday’s Group 1 Thousand Guineas. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.
Retiring champion Damien Oliver won't know until Wednesday whether he has a farewell ride in Saturday's $1.5 million Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.
Oliver is booked to pilot Vibrant Sun for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr camp in his bid for a sixth Thousand Guineas win.
But Vibrant Sun was 35th in line for a Thousand Guineas start on Tuesday afternoon.
Only a field of 16 will run in the Group 1 event
Kent Jr said the stable wasn't sure whether Vibrant Sun would sneak into the Thousand Guineas field but connections had a viable back-up plan should the filly miss the race.
"We have no idea whether we get a start but we certainly hope we do," he said.
"But if she doesn't get a start we'll just have to wait for the Sandown Guineas."
Vibrant Sun was a $201 chance in Thousand Guineas betting a week ago but TAB quickly slashed her quote to $21 after the three-year-old trounced older rivals in an eight-length maiden win at Geelong.
That easy win followed a sound second to the talented Roll On High at Pakenham on October 20.
Vibrant Sun gives them a walloping ????@MickPriceRacingpic.twitter.com/UbxOwQoMww
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 11, 2023
Roll On High went on to win the Desirable Stakes on Melbourne Cup Day but trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman decided to spell that filly rather than press on to the Thousand Guineas.
"Roll On High had a lot more race experience and fitness on her side," Kent Jr said.
"Roll On High took care of her pretty easily but the improvement she made between runs two and three was very good and she appreciated the step up in trip."
Kent Jr said it could be a case of Vibrant Sun, a daughter of Caulfield Guineas winner The Autumn Sun, being the filly on the up at the right time.
"Such was her win and the form out of her second-last start, where she ran second to Roll On High, why wouldn't we give it a go?" Kent Jr said.
"She might be on the up and coming up at the right time."
Kent Jr said Vibrant Sun would easily handle the seven-day back-up if she made the Thousand Guineas field, given she came through her Geelong run in good order.
"The timing is fine with the week's back-up because she pulled up great," Kent Jr said.
"We've always liked this filly, she's got a great action on her and it would be nice if Ollie could get one more Group 1 win at Caulfield for us.
"Hopefully she's got the class."
