Tough filly to help Matt Dunn’s Oaks dream

Trainer Matt Dunn believes La Scopa has inherited her mother Amalfi Dreams’ toughness and will stand up to a Group One Queensland Oaks campaign.

Dunn’s frustrating run of bad barriers for his horses has continued at Doomben on Saturday with Snitz drawing barrier 12 in the 3YO Plate (1350m) and La Scopa 17 in the Group Three Bracelet (1630m).

Dunn is keen to chase the Queensland Oaks (2200m) with La Scopa who was second to Improvise at her last start in the Listed Princess Stakes (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast.

“I am keen to train her as a stayer so we are heading to the Oaks at this stage,” Dunn said.

La Scopa is by Group One winner Show A Heart out of smart race mare Amalfi Dreams.

“Amalfi Dreams was stakes-placed in Brisbane and she was one of the toughest mares I have trained. I think La Scopa is like her ,” he said.

Dunn also entered Snitz for the longer Group Three Gunsynd Stakes (1630m) but decided to go with the shorter race.

“Really Snitz was just so well handicapped with the Plate conditions it was silly not to run him in it,” Dunn said.

At his last start Snitz finished fifth in the Country Championship Final at Randwick three weeks ago.

“Snitz drew wide and he had no luck. It has been the story with us lately that we just keep getting wide barriers,” Dunn said.

Dunn is keeping his options open with Snitz who has a good record at Doomben with the Queensland Guineas run at the track this season.

“I might even nominate him in the Stradbroke Handicap as it is 1350 metres at Doomben,” he said.

Credit: AAP

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