Parure will be the only filly in a field of nine three-year-olds to tackle the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes at The Valley.

Talented filly Parure is beginning to repay the faith that the Lindsay Park stable has in her as she attempts to land a second stakes race win against the boys.

Parure is the only filly in Saturday’s Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at The Valley and lines up after taking out the Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield on February 20.

Tom Dabernig, who trains the filly in partnership with Ben Hayes, said Parure had a fairly significant setback that caused her to miss the spring, which in turn has resulted in the three-year-old racing only seven times, for three wins.

“She got a respiratory infection the prep before and didn’t end up running after we got her up to the trial stage and then we turned her out,” Dabernig said.

“Then she had a phobia in the gates and got an embargo on her, so we had to go back to the trials and everything we did was about getting her right in the barriers, rather than seeing how well she went.

“She won her maiden at Wangaratta and then went to Sandown and has kept improving to the stage where she is now a black type winner.”

Saturday’s task has been made a shade tougher drawing the outside barrier in the field of nine.

But as Dabernig noted, the daughter of Fastnet Rock has improved with every run, while a Sydney campaign remains on the board.

“I think she’s in good shape. I don’t think the 2040 (metres) will be an issue as she ran the 1800 metres strongly the other day,” Dabernig said.

“She could possibly run the Vinery and head to the Australian Oaks (in Sydney) or divert to Adelaide if we think we need to aim a bit lower.”

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au