The $1million Group I VRC Oaks (2500m) is the highlight at Flemington on Thursday and with all of the fillies on trial at the trip, pedigree can be a good indicator and in a field of 14 that features only two stakes-winners and no Group I winners, it could be a year for an upset result.
1/ Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express x Draconic Treasure (IRE), by Street Cry) – Four wins and two seconds from six starts and last start won the G2 VRC Wakeful Stakes (2000m) by nearly two lengths.
From the first crop of Redoute’s Choice son Alabama Express, who was a G1 winner at 1400m, but has a Euro female family that does include stakes-winning stayers. Dam is by very versatile champion sire Street Cry and European female family includes Melbourne Cup winner Media Puzzle, so she gets a tick for pedigree.
2/ Too Darn Discreet (Too Darn Hot (GB) x Maybe Discreet, by Shamardal) – Three wins and a second from six starts and last two wins in G2 VRC Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) and G3 MRC Ethereal Stakes (2000m).
From the first crop of Too Darn Hot (GB), Champion 2YO and 3YO Colt by Dubawi at his best up to 1600m, but is a full sibling to a couple of genuine Group winning mile and half stayers. So far, he has sired 17 SW’s worldwide, but none at distances of 2300m or further, so is yet to prove his stripes as a sire of stayers. Dam won the G1 SAJC Australasian Oaks at 2000m, but she comes from the “Discreet” family and they are sprinter milers. Class will carry her a long way in a field where class is lacking.
3/ Harlem Queen (Brutal x Harlem River, by Fastnet Rock) – Six starts for two wins and two placings, her last win at Kembla over 1400m and was then second in G1ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) and fourth in G1 ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).
From the first crop of G1 Doncaster Handicap winner Brutal, a son of versatile champion NZ sire O’Reilly. Fam Harlem River won a stakes race over 1400m at two and comes from a female family steeped in pure speed featuring Everest winner Yes Yes Yes and dual G1 winning sprinter In Her Time. It would be a stretch to see this female family producing an Oaks winner, but stranger things have happened.
4/ Rag Queen (D’Argento x Victory Day by Domesday) – Only win was on debut over 1100m at Canterbury in January this year and was last start seventh in G1 Spring Champion after a fourth in G3 ATC Gloaming Stakes (1800m).
From the first crop of G1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) winner D’Argento, a son of So You Think. Dam is by Domesday, who sired three Derby winners and female family features several Group winning stayers including G1 winner Devil Moon, so can see why connections are persevering down the Oaks path.
5/ Powers of Opal (NZ) (Ocean Park x Strada Cavallo, by Alamosa) – Only win was a commanding 1600m maiden victory at Hawkesbury, but was fourth in G1 Flight Stakes and a good second in G2 Wakeful Stakes last Saturday.
By Cox Plate winning sire Ocean Park that has sired five SW’s at 2400m or further and dam is a SW at 1400m that placed in G1 New Zealand Oaks and Thousand Guineas. Third dam a speedy winner by Golden Slipper winner Rory’s Jester adding dash to a pedigree that otherwise says Oaks potential.
6/ Pleasure Artist (Trapeze Artist x Perfect Pleasure, by Pierro) – One win in Kembla maiden over 1400m from four starts, but was second in Listed ATC Dulcify Stakes (1600m) and good fifth in G1 Spring Champion.
By Champion 3YO Sprinter Trapeze Artist, who has never had a winner beyond 2300m, although to be fair has only had two runners at that trip. Dam offers more hope as she is by a versatile sire in Pierro, who has left his share of Oaks and Derby winners. Grand-dam is by Epsom Derby winner Quest for Fame and third dam is G1 VRC Oaks winner Sandy’s Pleasure.
7/ Talisay (Pride of Dubai x Mykaetob, by All Too Hard) – Had had more racing than any other runner with two wins and three placings from 10 starts and beat Victoria Derby winner Goldrush Guru when winning at Morphettville over 1550m in September before placing third to him in Listed SAJC Hill Smith Stakes (1800m). Only sixth in G2 Wakeful Stakes last Saturday.
By super versatile sire Pride of Dubai, who has given us the likes of Pride of Jenni and Bella Nipotina, but has also sired five SW’s over distances longer than 2300m. She’s from an unraced half-sister to triple Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva, so can hopefully channel some of her aunt’s bottomless reserves of stamina when it counts.
8/ Femminile (Dundeel x Femme Fireball, by Pierro) – One win from five starts and that was in Listed SAJC Oaklands Plate (1400m) last season at two and most recent run a close third in G3 Ethereal Stakes.
By proven classic sire Dundeel from stakes-placed sprinter Femme Fireball, a full sister to stakes-winning sprinter Rock, so while Femminile’s dam sire Pierro can get classic horses it would appear in this instance that his speed is coming through in this family. Fourth dam is G1 winner Credit Account, who won up to 1800m.
9/ Killcare Beachgirl (Too Darn Hot ((GB) x Absolute Joy, by Zabeel)- Only win a Wyong maiden over 1200m on debut at two, but has been trained for this race all prep and had two lead up runs in G3 Ethereal and G2 Wakeful at 2000m finishing third in the latter after going too hard in the Ethereal.
Second runner in the race for Too Darn Hot and has an elite female family being a half-sister to G2 winner Castlereagh Kid from a winning half-sister to G1 24090m winners Tuesday Jot and Sunday Joy, the dam of champion mare More Joyous with second dam Joie Denise the winner of rhe G1 Queensland Oaks. If pedigrees won races, she would get the prize.
10/ Noises (Microphone x Beetobee (Jpn), by Symboli Kris S) – Six starts for two wins and two seconds with her wins both coming at Hawkesbury over 1500 and 1800m and last start eighth in G1 Spring Champion Stakes.
From the first crop of speed son of Exceed and Excel in Microphone, who is yet to sire a SW, so hope probably lies with her dam, a Japanese bred winner at 1600m from a family that has produced plenty of stayers including some SW’s with third dam Mejiro Dober the Champion 3YO Filly in Japan.
11/ Hurry Curry (NZ) (Ocean Park x Hurry, by Savabaeel) – Two wins from four starts including VRC Oaks Preview (1800m) and last start fifth in G3 Ethereal. She was supposed to start in the G2 Wakeful, but was scratched after smashing Jamie Kah in the face pre-race and Joao Moreira takes the ride this time.
By Cox Plate winning sire Ocean Park from a 1200m winner by outstanding staying sire Savabeel from a big Black Type family that are largely sprinter milers up to 2000m, but she has a 3 x 3 double cross of Zabeel in her pedigree and might be a value bet if you believe she could have figured in the finish of the Wakeful.
12/ Inevitable Truth (Fastnet Rock x Scarletini, by Bernardini (USA)- Maiden after six starts and was second in the VRC Oaks Preview and fourth at past two starts in G3 Ethereal and G2 Wakeful.
By champion sire Fastnet Rock, who has sired plenty of Oaks and Derby winners and this filly is a half-sister to G1 Australian Derby winner Angel of Truth from Scarletini, who won 2400m and was fourth in G3 WA Oaks. Pedigree says yes, so it would be a hell of a way to break your maiden and not impossible!
13/ Placid Pearl (D’Argento x South Pearl, by High Chaparral (IRE)- One win and two seconds from just four starts and booked her Oaks ticket with dominant win at Scone over 2200m.
Second runner in the race for D’Argento and is from a daughter of outstanding staying sire High Chaparral (IRE). Grand-dam South Sea Pearl was twice placed in G1 Oaks races and female family has produced Group winning stayers Storm, Runaway Groom and Regal Sea, so definitely bred for the task.
14/ All Kinds of Folk (D’Argento x She Brings Hope, by Sebring) – Maiden after five starts and while she was fourth in G2 Edward Manifold Stakes to Too Darn Discreet her two subsequent runs were poor in G3 Ethereal and G2 Wakeful.
Third runner for D’Argento and while dam only won up to 1400m, if you go further back she comes from an Aga Khan female family featuring quality staying Group winners, but that fact is unlikely to help her on Thursday.
Selections
1/ Too Darn Discreet
2/ Treasurethe Moment
3/ Powers of Opal
4/ Killcare Beachgirl
Roughie
Inevitable Truth, Placid Pearl
