Thomas Carberry will attempt to pull off one of the great racing feats this spring, with Refuse To Curtsy set to chase her older half-sister Strictly Business' VRC Oaks crown in November.
The Royal Meeting filly was smashed in betting, from $3.60 to $2.20, and a class above her opposition second-up at Kilmore, shedding the maiden tag easily at start four and shortening from $34 to $26 for the Oaks.
And while there is still plenty to unfold before then, Refuse To Curtsy looks very capable of both a rise in class and trip, leaving Carberry dreaming of another tilt at the Group 1 he conquered last year, albeit via a different route.
"It is where we're aiming, and she's entitled to show that she can get there," he said.
"She was definitely fit enough to run a good race at Kilmore, and she'd learned a little bit from her three prior runs. She put it all together and did it really nicely."
"We'll probably go the Ethereal route, it looks like the logical step."
Strictly Business, whose primary goal this spring is the Melbourne Cup, only beat two home first-up over 2000m at Caulfield, but was in the worst going and strong through the line there.
Her next step will be the 2400m Herbert Power Stakes on Caulfield Guineas Day.
"I was satisfied. She didn't finish that far behind them and it was a quickly run race," Carberry said of his maiden Group 1 winner's first-up effort.
"Up to 2400m in the Herbert Power, she should be able to hit the line a bit stronger and run a better race, but ultimately the goal is to get to the first Tuesday of November."
All three of Strictly Business, Refuse To Curtsy and stakes placed gelding Kicking King were bred by Martin Falvey out of the $600 mare Tivoli Lass, who has already written herself into broodmare folklore.
Carberry laughed it off when asked if he or regular hoop John Allen could choose between Strictly Business or Refuse To Curtsy, but his gratitude for both horses shone through.
"I think Johnny's just happy to be on both of them, and I'm happy to have them," he said. "They're both lovely horses and we've been so lucky with it all."