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By Ray Hickson

The jury’s out as to whether classy filly Montefilia runs a strong 2400m but jockey Jason Collett is prepared to give her another chance to answer the question at Randwick on Saturday.

Jockey Jason Collett. (Pic: Steve Hart).

Montefilia backs up in the Group 1 $1m The Star Australian Oaks (2400m) after her fourth placing in the Australian Derby last weekend and Collett feels she had enough excuses to account for missing a place as the well supported favourite.

So far David Payne’s filly has been to the classic distance twice for a fading third, with excuses, in the VRC Oaks (2500m) in the spring and last week’s Derby against the boys.

“That’s definitely a question mark,’’ Collett said of the 2400m.

“She’s going to need things in her favour, an even run race. Maybe a bit more room as well would help.”

Collett’s referring to a few of the ‘one per centers’ in racing that can go against you and in Montefilia’s case in the Derby there were a few.

It was Payne’s intention to have Montefilia, $4.60 second favourite with TAB on Wednesday, ridden closer to the speed but while she landed about midfield she was shuffled back to near last coming to the turn before taking a run on the fence.

“The pace didn’t suit, she never got into a comfortable rhythm,’’ he said.

“She ended up in a tricky spot after she played up in the barriers which she didn’t do the last two times I rode her and that was a bit concerning.

“I suppose she needs a race run to suit. As the day panned out it was a slow lane really, she was still good through the line.”

Barrier eight in the 10 horse field doesn’t faze Collett as he said she’ll hopefully be able to be in a position to wind up and feels a back-up is in her favour.

In the spring she won the Spring Champion Stakes on the seven day back up from her Flight Stakes win.

“I think she is going well, the Rosehill Guineas run (third) was very good,’’ Collett said.

“She was four weeks in between the 1400m (first-up) and a pretty tough 2000m race so on the back up she has the right platform to produce.

“She still went through the line well, she didn’t peak on the run, and if David is happy so am I”

Collett rates the Kiwi filly Amarelinha as the horse to beat in the Oaks.

At Tuesday’s Breakfast With The Stars trackwork session Collett partnered both Wisdom Of Water and Crystal Bound in their gallops and will be on board the pair in the Group 2 $1m Arrowfield Sprint (1200m) and Group 2 $1m Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) respectively.

Montefilia runs fourth in the Australian Derby

Wisdom Of Water made his debut for Annabel Neasham with a game on pace second to Signore Fox in the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes two weeks ago.

“He was fantastic first-up in an open grade race,’’ Collett said.

“You’d like to think there’s improvement in him. He’s a nice horse, he galloped well (on Tuesday) and I’m really happy with him going into Saturday.”

Crystal Bound debuted with a six length win at Moonee Valley a month ago starting a drifting $11 and gave Collett a good first impression in her work.

“It was a comfortable gallop, I gave her a look around and didn’t ask for too much. I was just happy with the way she did it,’’ he said.

All the fields, form and replays for Day 2 of The Star Championships at Royal Randwick on Saturday