VINERY STUD TESTS FOR PROVINCIAL PAIR

ONE three-year-old filly is on trial for the Group 1 Australian Oaks, whilst the other provincial filly lines up for her “grand final” at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Both Hawkesbury’s Stand My Ground and Kembla Grange’s Aisle Two will contest the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) against their own age and sex.

It will not be an easy task for either under the set weights conditions against some well performed “girls”, with Stand My Ground rated a $151 bolter, and Aisle Two at $34.

Nonetheless, as their respective trainers point out, they are three-year-old fillies only once.

Marc Chevalier laughed off his filly’s $151 quote with TAB.com.au by saying “at least we aren’t under any pressure”.

Stand My Ground, having only her third start, faces a massive class rise, having won a Newcastle Super Maiden Plate (1600m) on March 12 at only her second start.

“I’m under no illusion that Saturday’s race is a different test altogether,” Chevalier said this morning.

“But I’m confident Stand My Ground will stay, and Saturday will tell us exactly where we are with the filly.

“If she races well, we can go on to the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.

“Otherwise, there is the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm in June to consider.

“Stand My Ground is in great order, and her work has been good.

“I couldn’t be happier with her. She is getting stronger all the time, and is a lovely horse to train.

“There are no issues at all.”

Tyler Schiller rode Stand My Ground in her Newcastle breakthrough and sticks with her, as does Adam Hyeronimus with Kembla filly Aisle Two.

He won a midweek Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m) on her at Rosehill on February 25, and also rode the filly when a close fifth in the Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) at home on March 13.

“Aisle Two was very unlucky in the Classic,” co-trainer Luke Price said today.

The RacingNSW stewards’ report underlined her luckless passage in the straight.

“Aisle Two was held up for clear running from approaching the 400m until after passing the 400m where she was directed to the inside of Spicy Lu to improve,” the report stated.

“When progressing into a run between Spicy Lu and Regal Problem near the 300m, she became unbalanced due to contact on her hindquarter from Regal Problem.”

Andrew Adkins, who rode Long Legs in the race, was subsequently suspended for permitting his mount to shift out when not sufficiently clear of Regal Problem, which was crowded onto Aisle Two.

“The incident cost Aisle Two her chance of winning, yet she was beaten little more than a length,” Luke Price said.

“I guess the 2000m has to be some query, but I’m confident she will handle the extra distance.

“However, she won’t be going on to the Oaks. The Vinery Stud Stakes is her grand final.”

Team Price also takes 2024 Queensland Oaks runner-up Our Gold Hope back to the races for the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m).

The five-year-old mare resumed when ninth to Gangsta Granny in the Group 3 Wenona Girl (1200m) at Randwick on March 7.

“Our Gold Hope races well second-up (a win and two placings from four starts) and has come on nicely since her first-up run,” Price said.

Team Price took winkers off the mare for that resumption and substituted visors, and that’s the case again on Saturday.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MARCH 26, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS