The $130,000 ATC Kirkham Plate (1000m) for two year-olds at Randwick on Saturday was dominated by fillies who filled the trifecta led by Godolphin homebred Ojai, a daughter of their champion sire Exceed and Excel.
The James Cummings trained Ojai finished second at her only previous barrier trial behind the impressive Ginger’s Gal (Exceed and Excel) and obviously took improvement from that outing into race day.
Ridden by Tim Clark, Ojai settled off the pace and finished off her race well along the inside to beat Queen of the Ball (I Am Invincible) by a head.
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Ojai is the second foal and second winner from Group III placed Medaglia D’Oro (USA) mare Matilija, a daughter of Group II winner Romneya.Matilija has a yearling colt to follow by Zoustar, but no foal this spring after slipping to Microphone, but she has already been covered by him again last month.