Go Indy Go is taking a less conventional path to next month’s Crown Oaks in Saturday’s Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase.
The Leon MacDonald and Andrew Gluyas-trained three-year-old is one of two fillies in the 2040m Group 2 event along with the Anthony Cummings-trained Miss Interiors.
A filly contesting the Moonee Valley Vase is not common however MacDonald is of the opinion taking this route toward the Oaks will be of benefit to Go Indy Go.
“We thought it was a better way to go rather than the Wakeful next Saturday where she would carry a penalty,” Macdonald said.
“It gives us two weeks between runs provided all goes well going to the Oaks.
“I’ve run a place in the Oaks three times previously after running in the Wakeful.
“They’ve all not finished the Oaks off well. I think this is the best way to go.”
Chad Schofield will be reunited with the filly under race conditions for the first time since a poor display on resuming in the Danehill Stakes
“He [Schofield] rang me yesterday morning and was very pleased with the way she worked,” MacDonald told Sky Sports Radio.
“She probably has gone on improving as the preparation has gone on.”
A winner of the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at the end of the Sydney Autumn Carnival, Go Indy Go’s latest preparation has yielded mixed results.
She was last seen recording a midfield seventh in the Thousand Guineas behind Amicus on October 11.
“In the Thousand Guineas, both her and Lumosty were both back at the rear and they did slow up in the middle stages of the race,” MacDonald said.
“It was impossible for them to pick the leaders up and she was only beaten 3.2 lengths. I don’t think it was such a bad run.”