Clarry Conners will make sure he is standing far away from rival trainer John Sargent when they leg their jockeys aboard for the VRC Oaks.

Conners saddles up Yesterjoy at Flemington on Thursday while Sargent has Thunder Lady in the 2500m Classic.

Before she won Saturday’s Wakeful Stakes, Thunder Lady’s claim to fame was flattening Conners in the Hawkesbury mounting yard in late September.

The trainer’s broken rib has healed but he is still waiting for his new back teeth.

“I feel fine now but I think the Oaks is the time to square up,” Conners said.

“Yesterjoy has done really well and the 2500 metres will suit. All she wants to do is stay.”

Between them, Conners and Sargent have won the past two VRC Oaks with Dear Demi and Kirramosa respectively.

Dear Demi is raced by John Singleton who is also the owner of Yesterjoy, a daughter of dual Oaks placed Tuesday Joy.

Yesterjoy ran fifth in the Wakeful at what was just her fifth start and wore blinkers to help her concentrate after she finished well back in the Geelong Classic.

In the 12 months between her first experience of the barriers and her debut in September, Yesterjoy was given another eight trials.

“She was very immature and wasn’t doing much in 800 metre trials,” Conners said.

“It wasn’t until we got her up over further she showed something.

“At this time of the year so early in the season you don’t really know which ones can get the 2500 metres in an Oaks but I think she will.”

Thunder Lady broke her maiden in the Wakeful and Sargent believes he has the timing spot-on for the Oaks, although she did misbehave in the yard before her last race.

But for Sargent, that’s all part of the challenge.

“It’s harder to train fillies than colts and geldings and I like it,” Sargent said.

“You have to think a bit more.”

Go Indy Go’s trainer Leon Macdonald chose the Group Two Vase at Moonee Valley for her lead-up believing she would be better with more time between her races.

The Group One winner of the Champagne Stakes last season, Go Indy Go wound up late to finish third in the Vase.

“I’ve had three placings in the Oaks with Li Lo Lill, Dane Belltar and Serious Speed and they all ran in the Wakeful,” Macdonald said.

“I’m not sure they were at their best on Oaks day.

“Go Indy Go’s work in the past week or so is as good as it’s been this preparation.”