Freedman lauds filly Estee

Beautifully-bred Rockmount pretrainer Estee could go straight to the Group One VRC Oaks after leading throughout in Saturday's Perri Cutten Plate at Caulfield.

Having her first start at 2000m, the daughter of Redoute's Choice and former outstanding race mare Tycoon Lil was well rated in front by Dwayne Dunn and scored a soft three-length win over Think Money with Testa Monte a long neck away third.

"I thought the 2000 metres would suit her and she relaxed beautifully," trainer Lee Freedman said.

"She's been a bit disappointing but we never lost faith. She'll probably go straight to the Oaks."

Freedman said the alternative would be to have another lead-up run in the Group Two Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Derby Day, five days before the Oaks.
"She was an expensive filly (a $2.1 million yearling) and a lot was expected of her but she lost her way for a while," he said.

Sent out at $6 on Saturday, Estee made it two wins and a second from eight starts.
The Sheikh Mohammed-owned filly firmed sharply from $41 in to $9 third pick for the Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 6.

Samantha Miss is the Oaks favourite at $2.70 with Estee's stablemate Miss Scarlatti, runner-up in Saturday's Norman Robinson Stakes, at $8.