Lake Avenue in search of more G2 success in Gulfstream Park Oaks

Three-year-old filly Lake Avenue goes for a second G2 victory on dirt in the Gulfstream Park Oaks over an extended mile at Gulfstream Park in US on Saturday.

The Bill Mott-trained daughter of Tapit capped a highly progressive juvenile campaign in New York with a decisive success over nine furlongs in the G2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct in December, when she made most of the running to score by four lengths.

She makes her second appearance of 2020 after coming home fourth in the Busher Invitational Stakes over a mile at Aqueduct on March 7.

Joel Rosario comes in for the ride on the Godolphin homebred, who is out of dual G1 winner Seventh Street.

Godolphin US President Jimmy Bell said: “Lake Avenue produced a bit of a shocker in the Busher Invitational and Bill Mott was the first to say her run was too bad to be true.

“She had a pretty good layoff before that run, so might have been a little rustier than we anticipated, while she got caught up in a speed duel before tiring.

“She came out of the race in good shape and we are hoping that this might be a good spot for her to rebound.”

Elsewhere, a week of fine-tuning and the return to 2,400m is expected to have Avilius in the right shape to redeem himself with a repeat his victory of 12 months ago in Saturday’s G1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill.

On a card that also offers the up-and-coming Asiago the opportunity to open her G1 account in the Vinery Stud Stakes and which marks the much-anticipated return to racing of Kementari, Avilius is out to prove he still has what it takes.

And his trainer James Cummings believes he does.

As he did 12 months ago, Avilius (Hugh Bowman) comes to the Tancred off a seven-day back up from his third placing in the G1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill, a race he also won in 2019.

While Avilius won’t be taking winning form into Saturday’s race, Cummings believes he can come out of it with his fourth G1 title.

“This race has been his main target, he got to the line to finish third last start and this will be his first run over 2,400m in 12 months,” he said.

“He’s looked well throughout this campaign, maybe too well. But he hasn’t been at his absolute best making me feel that he’s been half-a-run short.

“It’s a case of back-up and bounce-back.”

Saturday’s assignment is the final step in a G1 Australian Oaks bid for Asiago (Hugh Bowman).

“Asiago is maturing towards the Oaks, she had a good gallop on Tuesday and we’re happy to give her the chance to step up to a Group One,” Cummings said.

“She has shown a good turn of foot at 1,600m that we believe can serve her well at 2,000m.”

“She also has the strength that comes from a couple of preparations.”

Kementari (Hugh Bowman) runs in the G3 Star Kingdom Stakes after being gelded and returned to the track after his stud career was abandoned and after his intended reappearance was delayed by a week.

“There were no problems with him last week. I just didn’t think it was the right race,” Cummings said.

“I feel the 1,200m first-up here is more appealing.”

“His trials and his work suggest his destiny is as a racehorse.”

He will be accompanied in the Star Kingdom by Manicure (Kerrin McEvoy) who also runs in the race after a wide gate led to her withdrawal last week.

Pohutukawa (James McDonald) is another looking to return to winning form and although drawn wide in the G2 Emancipation Stakes, the task isn’t beyond her.

“She couldn’t get mobile on the very heavy going in the Coolmore here two weeks ago,” Cummings said.

“That was a shame because she’s ready to fire.”

In the G3 Doncaster Prelude, Cascadian (James McDonald) is out to make amends for a couple of runs in which he’s suffered significant interference.

“I can’t fault the way he’s going,” Cummings said.

“He’s progressed sensibly and safely, nothing earth-shattering, but solid.”

The same race provides Gaulois (Hugh Bowman) with the chance to repeat his victory of two starts ago in restricted company at Warwick Farm.

“I thought he might have been a victim of the track bias at Newcastle last start after he beat a good field including the promising Shared Ambition over the mile on a heavy track at Warwick Farm when he raced on the speed.”