McDonald settles on Geelong for Miss Ole

Miss Ole’s recent scratchings have been by design rather than concern, according to trainer Clinton McDonald.

The Ole Kirk filly was taken out of a Caulfield Heath race on December 20 after drawing wide and was again scratched from a $65,000 New Year’s Eve contest at Flemington.

McDonald has now settled on the $150,000 Brandt Colac 3YO Handicap at Saturday’s Coastal Classic meeting at Geelong as her preferred first-up assignment.

“I think she’s going well enough to win first-up, we just needed to have the right ducks in a line to push the button,” McDonald said.

The 1100-metre race will be Miss Ole’s first start since her June 7 Flemington victories, and she will face a competitive field including Job Done, Faraway Dream and Royal Rendezvous.

Her only other run came on debut when she finished fifth in the VOBIS Gold Strike at Warrnambool during the May Carnival.

Miss Ole was on track for a spring return before an infection forced McDonald to abandon the campaign.

“We just said ‘no, let’s stop’, because she was on heavy antibiotics and that’s when you stuff them, when you try and force them back,” he said.

“The owners were patient, gave her a spell and came back, and she’s right to go now.”

The filly has since completed two soft trials and will be aimed at the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) later this month.

“She’s growing into a good type of filly, she’s going to be a nice three-year-old in the autumn,” McDonald said.

“We’re hoping that she can get to Adelaide for a Sangster, or somewhere like that if she keeps going the way she’s going.

“We thought if we can get these two runs under her belt (we’d) then back off her and come into Adelaide with a little freshen up.”

The Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) remains a long-term objective.

Ben Melham has the ride on Miss Ole, who will start from barrier five.

Geelong betting markets are available through the Australian betting sites list.