VRC Oaks runner up Powers Of Opal can have her Moment in autumn

Trainer John Sargent remains optimistic that his filly, Powers Of Opal, can eventually defeat her VRC Oaks rival, Treasurethe Moment.

While Sargent acknowledges that Treasurethe Moment, trained by Matt Laurie, earned fair victories over Powers Of Opal during the Melbourne Cup Carnival in both the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) and the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m), he is hopeful for a different outcome in Sydney this autumn.

The Randwick trainer believes Powers Of Opal’s current campaign provides several advantages that could help her reverse those results.

"We’ll be on our home track, we’ve raced up here, and we won’t have to travel, so that will all be a big help," Sargent said.

"Let’s hope she can turn around the seconds into wins and the Victorian filly that beat her comes up."

Powers Of Opal is making solid progress as her campaign approaches the trial phase.

"She’ll have a couple of trials and then go through the three-year-old fillies races up to the Vinery and the Oaks," Sargent explained.

"She had about four weeks out. I couldn’t give her much longer because it’s a quick turnaround after you run down there in the Oaks.

"You’re better to have them back here in work in case something goes wrong and you’ve got a bit of residual fitness in them."

The Group 1 Vinery Stakes (2000m) is scheduled for March 29 at Rosehill, followed two weeks later by the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) at Randwick.