Racing: Everything looks rosy for Oaks favourite today

King's Rose. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Even the barrier draw has fallen into place for Oaks favourite King's Rose.

Trainer Jason Bridgman had two wishes for his high-class filly midweek - he didn't want a significantly wet track and he didn't want an inside barrier.

Yesterday afternoon the Trentham footing was upgraded to a good 3 on which King's Rose will jump from barrier No 11 at 4.26pm today.

"I definitely didn't want an inside barrier where she could get locked away and dictated to," said Bridgman.

"In one of her earlier races she drew an inside gate, got cramped up and when she got out she refused to let down.

"Ever since we've made sure she's in the open.

"Opie [Bosson] knows that well now and from No 11 he'll be able to put her in the right place to control her own destiny."

King's Rose is a big-striding filly and it's easy to see where the desire for plenty of galloping room comes from.

She arrived in Wellington at 8.00m yesterday in the best possible shape after an overnight float trip.

"She had a buck and a roll and was eating up straight away," said Bridgman.

The TAB yesterday shortened King's Rose into $2.80, after opening her at $3.20 when the Final Field option came on line on Thursday.

Midnight Oil, who came into as short as $4.50, was yesterday out to $5.

"If the race was 2100m she'd probably be at $1.20," said Bridgman.

"But it's the same set of fillies she's been beating."

Jimmy Choux proved in the $2.2 million Telecom Derby that when 3-year-olds are clearly better than the opposition it matters little what distance they run over, class is the determining factor.

If that's the case, King's Rose should be winning.