Victorian horseman Andrew Noblet is under no illusion of the task in front of Isles Of Avalon on debut in the $107,250 Listed Dequetteville Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville today.
A lack of options at home and a solid recent jump-out was enough to convince Noblet to bring the daughter of Toronado, who is owned by Tony Santic, to Adelaide for her first-start.
“There’s nothing here under 1200m, it’s a fillies race and she does go alright,” Noblet said.
“But always be wary at a first start in a race.”
Isles Of Avalon jumped out well alongside Prince Alexander at Burrumbeet last week but Noblet said it was always hard to know just how that would measure up on a race day.
“That horse (that defeated her) Prince Alexander, I know they have an opinion of, but it’s hard to get a guide through the jump-out,” Noblet said.
Isles Of Avalon is a full-sister to Rainbiel who steps out at Caulfield on Saturday. The three-year-old who has won two of eight starts, with five placings, including a second in the Group 3 Typhoon Tracy at Moonee Valley in February.
Like a lot of fillies in the race, Noblet said Isles Of Avalon would appreciate a solid tempo, which could come from the Godolphin pair of Cloudy and Translation.
“It’s always good if they have something to follow,” Noblet said.
“Those two (Godolphin) look the ones to beat. I don’t know a lot about the SA horses – it’s always hard to line them up.”
The James Cummings pair of Cloudy and Translation have contrasting form lines.
Cloudy was a recent Bendigo winner before running fourth in the $250,000 VOBIS Gold Rush feature on March 27 and will be ridden by Todd Pannell, while Jessica Eaton has secured the ride on Translation.
Translation has shown an abundance of speed in all three races, leading down the straight at Flemington two starts back before a soft Cranbourne win with Jamie Kah in the saddle last time out.
Translation is a current $3 favourite with tab.com.au ahead of Cloudy ($4.60) with the Glen Kent and Wayne Francis-trained Champagne Dreams on the third line of betting at $5 and Isles Of Avalon a $7.50 chance.
