Sagaronne starts 2015 VRC Oaks campaign at Valley

Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds says the experience gained means more than the result when Sagaronne makes her Melbourne debut at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Sagaronne developed quickly in the winter, progressing from a maiden win to a Listed victory then a Group I placegetter in three starts when she finished second to Press Statement in the JJ Atkins (1600m) at Doomben in June.

Edmonds sent Sagaronne to Melbourne last week to settle in before her first-up run in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m), which is her first run in her build-up to the Group I VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington in November.

Sagaronne trialled well when second to Rudy at the Gold Coast on August 11 but Edmonds said the 1200m of her first-up assignment is likely to prove too short for the daughter of Real Saga.

“What happens Saturday is nearly irrelevant because she’s going to be getting over journeys a lot further than 1200(m),” Edmonds said.

“It’s just a kick-off point basically and I wanted to give her a look at the Valley because she’ll run in the Vase in the lead-up to the Oaks.

“She trialled at home and now she can get used to going this way.”

Edmonds said a desire to keep Sagaronne settled was the main reason the three-year-old was in Melbourne rather than taking on the Sydney fillies in races such as the Flight Stakes.

“We’re on an Oaks path basically so I just wanted to kick her off here so we’re not going from state to state,” Edmonds said. “She can spend her entire preparation in Melbourne.”

Sagaronne was among 15 horses granted permission to work on the Moonee Valley course proper on Tuesday morning but Edmonds decided to keep her at Caulfield for her gallop.

“She’s settled in well down her at Aquanita (Racing),” he said. “She’s done really well.”

Craig Williams will ride Sagaronne on Saturday.

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