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There’s little doubt from trainer Roger James that Orchestral is potentially one of the best fillies he’s campaigned in Australia but by no means is he taking Saturday’s Group 1 $750,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill for granted.
Roger James, and training partner Robert Wellwood , won the race a year ago with Prowess and he's been successful on this day in the past with the likes of Sixty Seconds winning the 2002 Vinery and Silent Achiever claiming the Tancred in 2014.
Orchestral comes to Sydney with four wins on end, all by commanding margins, including the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) on March 2. And she comes with a hefty reputation.
"She's been impressive in her last four and she's building up quite a resume,'' James said.
"She's right up there with my best, absolutely, I wouldn't say she's better than them at this stage because she hasn't had the opportunity.
"Some of them were winning at weight-for-age but she's certainly got the potential to be right up with them."
The filly opened a dominant $1.60 favourite with TAB to extend her winning streak and James said it's a plus having James Mcdonald reunite with her having won the Karaka Millions on her in January.
While she put 3-3/4 lengths on the boys in the Derby at Ellerslie, James has a healthy respect for the local fillies who will be out to bring her winning streak to an end.
"She came from well back and looped the field and won with authority, as she had in her previous three starts,'' he said.
"I'm guessing the opposition might be a little bit stronger than what we've been meeting.
"I watched (Zardozi) the other day and she was highly impressive, and her spring form was faultless, so it's not going to be easy and it could come down to luck in running."
Orchestral arrived at her Randwick base on Tuesday afternoon and had a chance to stretch her legs on Wednesday morning.
James said since her Derby win they haven't been hard on her but her pre-flight workout caught his eye as a pointer to how well she's coping with the preparation.
"We put her out for a week in the paddock and then she had a week of trotting and cantering,'' he said.
"She started to do really well on us and she put in a piece of work that was probably as nice as I've seen her work, she looks great."
If Orchestral is successful in the Vinery, connections will have a choice that falls into the good problem department – do they take on the boys again in the $2 million Australian Derby next week or stick to the fillies in the $1 million The Star Australian Oaks a week later.
She's a $6 chance in the Derby while a solid $2.50 favourite in Oaks all-in markets.
"We have the luxury being able to firstly get through Saturday and judge her then, and see what the opposition are doing before we make a decision,'' James said.
