Adelaide Group 1s firmly in sights of Strictly Business

VRC Oaks winner Strictly Business is nearing a return to race action, with her Ballarat trainer Thomas Carberry eyeing a pair of Group 1 features in South Australia as part of an exciting autumn campaign.

Carberry has gradually been upping the tempo in his Group 1 winning filly’s preparation, with her first start back set down for early next month.

The daughter of Grunt, who made the leap from maiden winner to Group 1 victor within just 15 days last spring, delivered Carberry and his wife Monique their biggest thrill in racing together with a ‘life-changing’ maiden Group 1 win.

She spent five weeks in the paddock following her Oaks success in November, but was gradually eased back into work, with Carberry excited for what the short and long-term future holds.

“We are slowly ramping up the work and she is building her fitness well,” he said.

“She’s come through her spring campaign very good and she has shown the signs she has plenty of freshness in her for her autumn campaign.

“We’re very happy with her; she looks to be heading the right way.”

Carberry said her main targets would undoubtedly be the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on ANZAC Day and the prestigious South Australian Derby on 2 May.

Both features carry $1 million in prize money.

Carberry said Strictly Business would ideally have two starts in March, with a trial to follow ahead of her trip across the border.

“She looks like she’s grown a little bit (since her spring campaign) and developed nicely physically,” he said.

“She’s in good shape for an autumn campaign; very fresh and well in her work in this early part of her prep.

“We galloped her at Ballarat last Saturday morning and we’ll probably trial at Ballarat on the 23rd.

“That will help us get her race fitness back.”

 

 

Three months on from Strictly Business’ fairytale rise from a half-length maiden winner on her home track at Ballarat to dominant Group 1 conqueror at racing headquarters, Carberry said the achievement was still sinking in.

He said the journey had put plenty into perspective for Monique and him.

“There are a lot of days you wake up and wonder why you are doing it,” said Carberry, who arrived in Australia from Ireland in 2012, and established his own training operation in late 2017.

“Now, obviously, that’s why you were doing it and why you continue to do it because of the opportunity to be successful at the top level is there.

“We are very appreciative of that and appreciative of all the help we get from everyone around us.

“When Monique and I started this business, we were quite humble and modest about it, and we still are.

“We just appreciate the better days and what can happen.

“You are really battling to be a part of the action, but for it to be possible to actually get there … the first prize on the day … you are really up against it.

“But it’s possible and you have to keep getting up every day and having a crack.”

Excitingly for Carberry, who routinely has about 10 horses in work, Strictly Business’ sister Refuse To Curtsy made her debut a fortnight ago in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield.

The filly finished a ‘respectable’ seventh behind the impressive Streisand, one of the leading chances in this weekend’s Group 1 Blue Diamond.

“She’ll appreciate further (distance), but it gave her a good bit of experience,” Carberry said.

“We may look at one more run this prep, or she may go out and come back for more of a spring campaign.

“There’s some exciting things ahead for her, as there is with Strictly Business.”