KEY POINTS:
It won't be a lack of ability that keeps Lauraella from taking on the colts in the Woodlands Northern Derby.
But she is likely to miss the classic because she already has too many other lucrative targets this season.
The daughter of Christian Cullen overcame a hard early run to win the $175,000 PGG Sales Series Pace at Addington on Saturday, suggesting once again she is the best pacing filly in the country.
She will now start favourite in the $300,000 Pascoes Northern Oaks at Alexandra Park on February 27, victory in which would secure her a start in the $600,000 Derby a week later.
But trainer Geoff Small says the Derby is an unlikely target.
"It is not because I don't think she is good enough because she could be a factor in it," said Small.
"But it is a very long season for these fillies and I just don't think we need to add another hard race in.
"If she wins the Oaks and the owners want to have a crack at the Derby we will have to look at it.
"But she has a massive programme coming up."
Lauraella has already won four of her six starts this season and nearly $180,000 in stakes but her menu includes over $1 million worth of races.
She has the Oaks at Alexandra Park, the heats and final of the Nevele R series, the New Zealand Oaks, the Harness Jewels and the Australasian Breeders Crown.
And that is without chucking in a few more Oaks races in Australia.
"It is actually too long a season for them and often leaves them stuffed at 4 but what do you do?
"It is huge money and they are only 3 once. But often after a season like that they are better off being put in foal and retired because there isn't much for them at 4."
While Lauraella was a late maturer as a 2-year-old, when her only win was the Harness Jewels, she has developed into the complete package at 3.
But punters would be crazy to take the TAB fixed odds on her for the Derby on March 6 as she would need
to win the Oaks to even get invited, meaning the odds are effectively for her pulling off an unheard-of double in the space of a week.
She may be very good, but she isn't that good.
