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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Roger James says star filly Orchestral has proven when the going gets tough, the tough get going and hopes she can parlay her impressive Australian debut win into the Group 1 $1m The Star Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Roger James (Pic: Trish Dunell).

Orchestral, $1.60 with TAB on Wednesday, didn’t have the easy win most expected in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) two weeks ago.

When Nash Rawiller took off well before the home turn on Tutta La Vita it forced James McDonald and Orchestral to get chasing from a long way out and James said that tough run stands her in good stead.

And told him a little bit about her grit under pressure.

“That certainly made it hard for us and she had to draw on some qualities she hasn’t had to previously and she did it,’’ James said.

“With every race she’s learning, she was out of her comfort zone that day for probably one of the first times of her life.

“If she’s going to go to the next level she’ll have to deal with that.”

In the Vinery, Orchestral clocked a 33.42 (Punter's Intelligence) for her last 600m and ran the race's fastest last 200m of 11.40 to pick up Tutta La Vita.

James, who co-trains with Robert Wellwood, said Orchestral has trained on nicely from the Vinery and with a Group 1 New Zealand Derby win under her belt he’s looking forward to seeing her again at 2400m on a big track.

Hungry Heart (2021) is the last Vinery winner to complete the double and with the filly aiming for six wins on end and James believes a soft track will be in her favour.

“She’s done everything we’ve asked of her and she’s coping well with her preparation,’’ he said.

“She’s well into her prep now and showing no signs of that.

“There’s a lot of expectation there but they all get beaten, I’ve been in the game long enough to know that, but you’re always hopeful they’ll carry on with it.

“I hope there’s plenty of pace in it and she does get her chance.”

Jockey James McDonald rode Orchestral in trackwork on Tuesday morning and said on Sky Sports Radio she’s “all guns blazing” for the Oaks.

“She’s a ripper, she’s going really well and she’s holding her condition beautifully,’’ McDonald said.

“She’s in a really good spot and she put in a nice piece of work.”

As James alluded, Orchestral will need to continue to take steps up if she’s to transition to weight-for-age company as an older mare and McDonald feels she’ll have no trouble adapting to whatever is thrown at her.

Orchestral wins the Vinery Stud Stakes

Does that put a race like the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) on the radar for the spring?

“She’s got the pace of a miler, she’s that talented as a four-year-old mare she could win a seven furlong Group 1,’’ McDonald said.

“She’s that type of horse, she’s got speed but she’s also got stamina. It’ll be interesting to see how she trains on after a couple of mile and a half runs.”

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