MAIDEN performer Morrissette must run in the top three placegetters in Saturday's $200,000 Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield to force her way into the field for the $1 million VRC Oaks at Flemington on November 4.
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A win or placing in Saturday's group three race over 2000 metres will lift the Simon Ryan-trained Morrissette's rating for next month's group one classic over 2500 metres.
Simon Ryan is hopeful of a forward showing from his three-year-old filly in the Ethereal.
"I think she'll run well," the Warrnambool-based trainer told The Standard.
"Morrissette has to run in the top three on Saturday to warrant a start in the VRC Oaks. She's got to get up her rating and prizemoney to earn a start in the Oaks.
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"She's crying out for the 2500 metres of the Oaks but she'll still run well over the 2000 metres in the Ethereal. The Ethereal and the Oaks have been the main goals for the filly in this campaign."
Morrissette ran fourth at her last outing over 1800 metres and the former jumps jockey was happy with that performance.
"I thought her last start was very good at Flemington," he said. "She finished off the race strongly.
"The form around Morrissette is very strong. Her last 600 metres in the Flemington race were very good as I said she's crying out for more ground. She's trained on well since her Flemington run."
Leading Warrnambool-based jockey Declan Bates has been booked for his first race ride on Morrissette.
Early betting markets rate Morrissette a $26 chance of winning the race.
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