Connections backing Either Oar to deliver in Group 3 test

Passed in at the Magic Millions sales after failing to reach its $10,000 reserve, a man eventually emerged willing to pay $7000, only for the sale to fall through after a vet inspection.

Instead, the breeder opted to lease a share of the horse to a syndicate through leading Kembla trainer Gwenda Markwell, a move that has proved very profitable.

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Five races into her career, the filly has already won $43,000 in prize money and North is hardly surprised.

"We passed her in at the sales," North said. "We couldn't get what we thought she was worth.

"She always had great movement, a great action and walk on her. The yearling sales aren't a walking race, but she always had a good presence and was a sensible filly."

Either Oar will contest the biggest race of her young career on Thursday, the group 3 1100-metres Red Roses Stakes at Flemington.

Again she has been written off, the three-year-old presently a $34 chance with TAB fixed odds.

North concedes she's untried at this level, all five starts coming at provincial grade, however he knows a contender when he sees one.

"She's been competitive with horses that are running at group level, I don't see why she wouldn't be competitive on Thursday.

"Gwenda's pretty confident she's as good as she can get her.

"Horses that haven't raced in as good company as her are shorter odds. If she had raced in a midweek in town and won, she'd be a hell of a lot shorter in the betting."