Ciaron Maher knows how to train a VRC Oaks winner and reckons Aloisia has the galloping action and the determination to become his third winner of the 2500m Group I race.
Maher has won the Oaks with Set Square (2014) and Jameka (2015) and has $13 second favourite Aloisia for the November feature.
Aloisia will resume in Saturday's Aquis Farm Supports Pinchapoo Plate (1400m) in the first plank of a four-start spring campaign which will include the Thousand Guineas and culminate in the VRC Oaks.
It will be the first time Aloisia has been seen on race day since she ran a cracking second behind Capital Gain in the Group I JJ Atkins (1600m) during the Queensland winter carnival.
It was a big run considering she found herself three back along the fence and tightened for room, struggling to get clear running at the top of the straight.
Before that the former Kiwi had her first Australian start for Maher when she won at Flemington over 1400m in May.
The OTI filly looks as if she will only get better as the distances get longer and Maher is convinced she will be a strong Oaks contender.
"Jameka was big and strong, almost like a colt, whereas Set Square was like a whirlwind who came on the scene very quickly and did great things," Maher said.
"Aloisia is different again, I would call her a very determined filly.
"I think that determination and will to win will take her a long way.
"The other top attribute she has is that, like Jameka and Set Square, she has a really great action."
Aloisia is a $5 chance with Sportsfest and Ladbrokes when she resumes on Saturday and some punters might be looking elsewhere, thinking perhaps she wants more ground and has bigger fish to fry this spring.
But Maher says she will be in the race up to her eyeballs.
"She comes to hand pretty quickly and while she will take improvement out of this run, she has real quality about her and is drawn to get a nice run in a pocket just behind them," Maher said.
"She wintered really well in Queensland and has trialled up nicely for this.
"I wouldn't be at all surprised if she won."
WATCH Aloisia run second in the Group I JJ Atkins
