Talented filly Palacio De Cristal will make the long trek from Sydney to Adelaide this week to try to salvage something from a luckless autumn carnival.
The Graham Begg-trained 3-year-old runs in Saturday's group three Auraria Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville with Brad Rawiller aboard.
A major influence on Begg's decisionto head south rather than north to Queensland was her strong victory over subsequent group one winner Purple over 1700 metres at Flemington in the spring.
"Taking a filly on such a long trip is not something I would normally do but she went so well in the other direction I thought it was worth a shot," Begg said.
"It's a drop in grade from what she has been running in and I think it's an ideal opportunity to get some black type for her owner Gerry Harvey. It will rule her out of going to Queensland for the Oaks but she pulled very hard in the Oaks here [Sydney] which is not what you want to see in a stayer.
"It's a big trip but I think she can handle it.
"It's been a frustrating autumn. In her first two races she had no hope, she ran well in the Keith Nolan and then she ran in the Oaks.
"The wet tracks haven't helped her either.
"It has been wet in Adelaide but hopefully by Saturday it will be on the improve again."
Palacio De Cristal finished eighth in the Light Fingers won by Rock Me Baby on a slow track on February 14 then was hampered when 10th in the Surround Stakes won by Portillo three weeks later.
Her fourth to Allez Wonder on March 22 was encouraging but she struck a slow track and a lot of traffic when a distant 10th in the group one Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) won by Purple on April 4.
After being among the early favourites for the AJC Australian Oaks (2400m), Palacio De Cristal came in for support again on race day but could only manage 11th in the race won by Kiwi filly Daffodil.
While Palacio De Cristal will be in the paddock for most of the Brisbane winter carnival, Begg is warming to taking All Silent north.
After success in the Canterbury Stakes, All Silent finished out of the placings in three group one starts over the autumn with Begg citing the wet Sydney tracks as a reason.
All Silent is current favourite for the A$1 million Stradbroke Handicap on June 6.
