Cover image courtesy of Bruno Cannatelli
Queensland Oaks: a true staying test
We're passing on Canterbury, here's the yarn...
Stamina was the key ingredient in a truly run G1 Queensland Oaks this year.
Kris Lees’ filly You Wahng (So You Think {NZ}) prevailed in the time of 2:17.16s, which is 5l above standard for the race. She had the opportunity to run time with the leader, Shangri La Impact (NZ) (Staphanos {Jpn}) going through the first 1600 metres 9l above standard race pace. Her and runner-up Pinito (Trapeze Artist) had demonstrated flat sectionals in their respective lead-up runs with the winner in particular profiling like a real stayer.
But it’s the third horse you want to follow into the spring. Benagil (Manhattan Rain) has come of age this campaign.
Earlier in her career, she would post slick sectionals from the back without winning. I often thought she was just a dasher – a term I use for a horse that has a short, sharp sprint but bugger all else. She’s proved me wrong multiple times since the start of the year. After being held up at the top of the straight, she charged to the line with not only the best last 200 metres of the race, but she was the only horse to break standard time over the final section.
The rest were out on their feet. We saw in the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes that she is competitive with Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) at 2000 metres. Now we know she can finish through the line in a fast run 2200 metres, which essentially means 2400 metres should be no problem. The G1 Caulfield Cup is a perfect target for her, although Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) still holds the top spot on my ratings for that race.
Mares & sprints: Key performances
Joliestar (Zoustar) bagged another Group 1 in the Kingsford-Smith Cup. This time at weight-for-age, which enhances her value as a broodmare, something I couldn’t care much less about. Off an even tempo, she’s failed to break standard time, and I highly doubt this will go down as one of the better sprints we see this year. Some punters will fall into the trap of backing runners out of this in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap this week, but I doubt any can win.
Still on mares at Eagle Farm and the best run of the day was Zaszou (Zoustar) in the G2 Helen Coughlan Stakes. Navyonthehighway (Merchant Navy) set a moderate tempo where they went through the first half of the race almost 2l below standard. Zaszou clocked a slick 10.96s between the 400 metres and 200 metres, the fastest of the day, to put herself into the race. Then she finished off in 11.67s, 3l above standard to get the cash. She’s a live hope for the G1 Tattersalls Tiara in a fortnight.
Sunrays (Hellbent) made it five from six when she won the Listed Phoenix Stakes at the start of the day. Her overall time was almost 6l above standard and she hit the line in benchmark figures. This was a super win as it was her first go beyond 1300 metres and she absorbed a hot tempo and finished right through the line. What a shame she’s not running in the G1 JJ Atkins.
Fillies prevail in Melbourne
Down in Melbourne, a filly I’ve always had a bit of time for, Shockletz (NZ) (Shocking), did similar things. The 3YO Open over 2000 metres at Flemington was her first go at this trip in her current campaign and the first time since failing in the G2 Wakeful Stakes last spring behind Treasurethe Moment. She was a bit new then, still in her first campaign, but the signs are positive for this filly, who has a turn of foot. They beat 3YO Open standard time by 4l and surely can only get better? A daughter of G1 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, I’d think the stable will try and stretch her out at some point to see if that staying prowess has been passed on.
The lone 2-year-old race down there was only fair with Miss Ole’s (Ole Kirk) win being 7l below standard. Granted the pace was muddling, but I didn’t think this field finished off good enough to warrant anything going into the blackbook. Son Of Kirk (Ole Kirk) is the only one who could leapfrog into something. He bombed the start, travelled keenly and sweated up noticeably.
Oh Too Good (All Too Hard) was simply that in the Vobis Gold Mile beating Jimmy The Bear (Jimmy Creed {USA}) and in doing so smashed standard time by 4.5l. She’s well placed in these winter features and you can expect her to be a huge part of Finals day at headquarters next month.
The only horse at Randwick worth mentioning for mine was Millie De Lune (Puissance De lune {Ire}), who took out the 3YO BM72 2000 metres contest. She beat standard time by 5l and this was her first go at 2000 metres. She might be a stayer to watch go through the grades.
Stradbroke Handicap day this weekend and I fancy War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel {Ire}) will be hard to beat with Waterford (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) the best roughie if he gets a run.
