Heavily backed to win the Kennedy Oaks Trial (1800m) and widely expected to secure an Oaks berth with victory, the star filly laboured into sixth place behind Pinot.

PURCELL SET FOR BIG SLICE OF MAHER’S TEAM

THURSDAY BEST BETS: BENDIGO

OSCIETRA FLOPS AT FLEMINGTON

Bookmakers reacted immediately to a run trainer Darren Weir described as plain by replacing her at the head of markets by Aloisia and Pinot, who are now TAB $7 joints favourites for the classic. Anchor Bid drifted from $7-$11.

Jockey Mark Zahra could offer little explanation for the run.

“They didn’t go that quick but I thought we were in a spot to win at the top of the straight,” he said. “Got within two lengths but couldn’t finish off. Having a bit of a blow pulling up, not a massive one. Have to see how it pulled up.”

Stephen Baster’s recommendation to remove blinkers from Pinot, a Pierro filly out of 2005 Australian Oaks winner Dizelle, was a masterstroke.

Representing Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Roger Elliott said the gear change improved Pinot’s manners after she surged away from Think Diamonds and Sweet Mischief. Four Koalas turned in another decent Oaks trial in fourth.

“She just raced a little bit keen the other day (at Bendigo) with the blinkers on and she relaxed really nice today and it was a good ride by Steve.

“She just got held up a little bit on the corner and then when she finally got clear, she went away. We were pretty confident, she’s been going really well.”

Baster said Pinot’s immaturity had prevented her from excelling in three previous starts, including her second to Anchor Bid at Bendigo.

“She’s always been a really nice filly but a lot has gone wrong with her,” Baster said.

“She’s been immature and then we put the blinkers on to get her going because she wasn’t going and then she wanted to lay in and lay out.

“The other day, I thought she overdid it a little bit and I suggested we take the shades off and let her relax a little bit and today she was good.

“She still did a little bit wrong but, as you saw, when I zigged, I should’ve zagged and I eventually got the run, she really launched to the line.

“She was really good — quite impressive.”

Meantime, Mark Zahra and Stephanie Thornton were both banned for six meetings for excessive whip use at Flemington. Zahra will start his suspension after Friday night’s Moir Stakes meeting and will return for Turnbull Stakes day.

Shades of Super Impose in Abbey surge

TAVISTOCK Abbey charged deeper into classic calculations with a narrow victory in the Victoria Derby Trial (1800m) at Flemington.

Sporting colours made ­famous by Carbine and Super Impose, Tavistock Abbey has a long way to go to deserve bracketing with those giants. But, as jockey Luke Currie observed, the gelding “is definitely going the right way” ­towards Derby success.

Trainer Anthony Freedman was optimistic Tavistock Abbey would advance to the 2500m Derby on November 4.

“We’ll just plot a course through to the Derby and if we’re happy with him come Derby day, we’ll run,” he said. “If it comes a bit quick for him, we might wait for the autumn. We’ll see.

“We’ve got various options. We can go to the Caulfield Classic, the Vase, Geelong. Look, it’s the obvious way to go. He’s got to keep doing it, obviously, as they all do. He was strong today.

“He wasn’t as dominant today as he was at Bendigo, but he got the job done and he’ll probably ­improve off it. He should only get better as he goes along. He’s a nice horse.”

Freedman said John Newton, one of Tavistock Abbey’s part-owners, was involved in Super Impose and asked if the star miler’s colours could be ­revived.

“It took a while to get everyone to agree,” Freedman said. “I think everyone’s happy with them.”

Currie said Tavistock Abbey, who overhauled Main Stage on the line, was not suited by being ridden closer. “His last win was really good. Today, he probably wasn’t as well suited,” he said.

Main Stage’s rider Michael Walker was sure the gelding would be a Derby contender.