Burning Power (Image: Racing Photos)
While an autumn Oaks campaign appears an obvious ploy for his proven filly Douceur, trainer Patrick Payne is hoping to unveil another such type at The Valley on Friday night.
Payne said that Burning Power may not be the sprinter her breeding suggests and that she too could earn a shot at a distance classic in the autumn if she continues to progress.
"I reckon she could be an Oaks filly in the autumn - which Oaks I don't know," he said. "She's just needs to get her rating up, so we'll go on Friday night and then to a 2000-metre race."
Burning Power, a daughter of Snitzel stallion Sizzling, rises to 1600m against fellow three-year-olds on Friday on the back of an eye-catching fourth at just her third start in the Listed Desirable Stakes (1400m) won by the exciting Espiona.
"She's pulled up really well," Payne said. "She's very good on wet ground as well.
"I think she's got some sort of future. She's not really bred to, but I think she's going to stay and be a 2000 to 2400-metre horse."
Payne reported his Kennedy Oaks runner-up and Wakeful Stakes placegetter Douceur was happily spelling with the South Australian Oaks races in mind next season.
Payne said he watched Douceur's Oaks race at home and when his filly slipped clear inside the final 200m, he committed the ultimate sin.
"I dropped my guard," Payne lamented. "I thought she was going to win at the 100 metres. I never do (early crow). I am always pessimistic, but I said 'She's going to hold on' just as she got nabbed.
"I reckon she'll probably to go to South Australia and try and win her Oaks there," he said. "A lot of the good fillies will go on to Sydney and we instead will go to the Australasian Oaks and SA Oaks.
"Whether she is going to be a stayer of the future, I don't know, but you've got to make the most of their three-year-old year.
"We don't think she's good enough for the Guineas races and these races are so much more achievable."