Scott Brunton hopes unbeaten filly Hela can deliver his first Group 1 with victory in the Australasian Oaks

Trainer Scott Brunton isn’t shy about his opinion of unbeaten Tasmanian filly Hela ahead of Saturday’s Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) test at Morphettville.

“Of the fillies I have had, she is the best by far,” he says.

And with seven wins from as many starts to her name, it’s easy to see why he holds his daughter of Night Of Thunder in such high regard.

The Tasmanian star has beaten all that come before her in the Apple Isle and will line up in South Australia as one of the leading chances in the $500,000 Australasian Oaks.

Brunton expects Hela will be up to the challenge as the Seven Mile Beach trainer chases a breakthrough at Group 1 level.

“I think she is pretty smart and certainly wouldn’t be coming here if I didn’t she could win,” Brunton said.

“How good she is, I don’t know?

“She is either better than we think or she is special. She is one of those horses, she has that turn of foot and when she gets away from them she idles.

“It‘s pretty exciting, when she has been under pressure a little bit she has drawn away from them.”

Scott Brunton says Hela might be special. Picture: AAPSource:AAP

Hela has started as an odds-on favourite in all seven of her victories and has never looked like getting beaten in any of them.

She is already a Listed winner after dominating in the Strutt Stakes (2100m) at Hobart in February when beating subsequent Tasmanian Oaks winner Chequerboard by 3-3/4 lengths.

But Brunton expects his rising star, which cost just $30,000 at the Magic Millions Tasmanian Sale, will need to go to the next level when she comes up against a higher calibre group of fillies in the Oaks.

“I am under no illusions that she has come up against previously are probably inferior to what she comes up against on Saturday,” he said.

“But she has beaten the older seasoned horses and I don‘t think you can disrespect that.

“A three-year-old filly racing these old horses can sometimes be a bit of an ask but she has done that on four occasions now.

“And when she won over the 2100m at Hobart, he rode her like he stole her and she broke the track record.

“I think the track has only been around for 12 or 18 months but it was no easy feat.”

Hela arrived in South Australia on Wednesday and has settled in well at Murray Bridge where she will put the finishing touches on her Oaks preparation.

Punters were quick to get the money on Hela after the filly drew gate three at Tuesday’s barrier draw at Morphettville.

She had her price slashed from $6 into $4.50 equal favouritism with the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Steinem before drifting out to $4.80 on Thursday.

Steinem is now the $4.20 top elect.

Regular jockey David Pires will make the journey across to ride Hela this weekend.

Originally published asBrunton rates unbeaten Hela the real deal

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