Racing: Miss Finland 50-50 chance for Kelt

Miss Finland resumes racing in the Memsie Stakes on September 1. Photo / Getty Images

Champion filly Miss Finland is still a strong chance of starting in the $2 million Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings before her Cox Plate bid in Melbourne in October.

Managing owner John Messara said Miss Finland had thrived during her winter break at his Arrowfield Stud in the New South Wales Hunter Valley and would resume in the group two Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 1.

"She's about six weeks away from resuming and she's been working keenly at Lindsay Park [in Adelaide]," Messara said.

"When she left to go to Lindsay Park she was 59kg heavier than before and at the moment she's about 30kg heavier than when she last raced.

"I thought with all the weight she put on she might have been getting matronly."

Trainer David Hayes has nominated the Redoute's Choice filly for the Kelt on October 6 and also included the group one Mudgway Stakes (1400m) on September 1 and group one Stoney Bridge Stud Stakes (1600m) on her New Zealand agenda.

Messara added: "I'd say she's a 50-50 chance to go over but we'll wait and see how she goes first in the Memsie.

"We've made some inquiries about running her in the Kelt and it's no problem getting her to Auckland. But it's a seven-hour float trip from Auckland to Hastings.

"She'd be capable of winning that race [the Kelt] and it's three weeks before the Cox Plate."

Miss Finland has not started since she failed on a heavy track when sixth to Fiumicino in the group one AJC Australian Derby (2400m) for 3-year-olds at Randwick on April 7.

She was the heavily supported favourite for the Derby but after receiving a buffeting she failed to show her usual finishing dash on the wet ground.

The winner of the 2006 Golden Slipper, Miss Finland won the Thousand Guineas (1600m) and VRC Oaks (2500m) last spring and then added the Australian Guineas (1600m) and Arrowfield Stud Stakes (2000m) to her growing group one record in the autumn.

AAP