Aloisia confirms Oaks favouritism in Vase

Aloisia has tightened her grip on VRC Oaks favouritism with a dominant win in the Group Two Vase at Moonee Valley.

The Thousand Guineas winner took on the colts and geldings in Saturday’s 2040m race and strode away from last weekend’s Caulfield Classic winner Cliff’s Edge to win by 3-1/2 lengths.

Third placed Salsamor was another 5-1/2 lengths away.

In the process of adding her second feature win of the spring carnival from three starts, Aloisia, ridden by Luke Nolen, has firmed from $2.50 to $1.70 to win the $1 million VRC Oaks (2500m) on November 9.

Trainer Aaron Purcell insists the Oaks has been the main target all spring.

“This was not her grand final, but definitely a very sweet victory on the way through,” Purcell said.

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“If she pulls up well and has a trouble-free couple of weeks then she’ll be pretty hard to beat in the Oaks.”

When Ciaron Maher was suspended for six months in late September, Warrnambool trainer Purcell took over Maher’s large team of horses at Caulfield.

Aloisia has lived up to Purcell’s hopes since, giving him his first Group One win in the Thousand Guineas in her first start for him.

“She was probably the number one horse, I thought, when I came from Warrnambool to Caulfield,” Purcell said.

“She was the horse who had a big race written all over her. Obviously I’ve got to thank the team. They’ve put a lot more time and effort into her than I have and they know the filly backwards.

“Everything has just fallen into place.”