Pygmy to make a big step up

UNHERALDED filly Pygmy makes an overdue step into the big time when she takes her place in the Queensland Oaks on Saturday.

The Godolphin filly is coming off a last-start Hawkesbury Benchmark 70 win and shapes as trainer Darren Beadman’s best hope of winning a Group 1 race before James Cummings takes over on August 1.

Godolphin Australia boss Henty Plumptre reported yesterday Impending (Stradbroke Handicap) and Kementari (J.J. Atkins) would be given a break, rather than taking their place Group 1 races on June 10.

Plumptre said former trainer John O’Shea rated the filly early in her career but immaturity held her back.

“She’s quite a long, stringylooking filly,” Plumptre said.

“Every time John put the pressure on her she’d cough, or get a temperature, so we never really had a chance to get to the bottom of her in the spring.

“She’s probably only a rough chance this week but she’s done nothing wrong, albeit in the provincials, and she probably deserves a shy at the stumps.”