Oaks Contender for Stratum

I have to confess, I'm in love – from the moment Greysful Glamour walked into the mounting yard at Flemington, I hoped it would win as it's the most beautiful filly I've seen in a long time.

She's silvery grey, with a bold, beautiful eye and a body that would put her on the cover of Sports Illustrated if she were a model.

Some horses take your breath away and she's one of them. Even mounting yard commentator Jane Ivill was starstruck making her the best from the yard with a glowing endorsement.

The Mark Newnham trained filly has ability to match and powered clear to win by a commanding three and a half lengths in the $60,000 VRC Oaks Trial over 1800 metres with Tim Clark in the saddle.

Group III placed at her previous start in the Newcastle Spring Stakes, Greysful Glamour had a class edge on her rivals and it showed.

"She never gives you any confidence mid-race," Clark said. "She doesn't really travel but I've had a fair bit to do with her and she just keeps giving.

"She's a really tough little filly and it was a good plan by Mark (Newnham, the trainer) to target this race.

"She's pretty laidback and casual and probably hasn't got a brilliant turn of foot or anything but she's very tough and she gives her all and it will take her a long way.

"She rests in a race, which is really important for stayers when they are getting over a trip. She rests and got good tactical speed and can take up a position."

A $90,000 Inglis Easter Session II purchase for Darby Racing / De Burgh Equine from Edinglassie Stud, Greysful Glamour has two wins and four placings from nine starts and has already returned over $95,000 in prizemoney.

By the late Golden Slipper winner Stratum, Greysful Glamour will bid to become his second Oaks winner following in the footsteps of his former star filly Streama.

Blessed with a stout staying pedigree on her dam side, Greysful Glamour is the first foal of Rippled (GB), a minor winner by classic sire Dalakhani from a daughter of Sadler's Wells. The family features many European Black Type winners including high class stayer Libran (IRE), who was second in the Group I ATC Sydney Cup and runs in the Group I ATC The Metropolitan on Saturday.

The current two year-old from Rippled, a filly by Hinchinbrook was also bought by Darby Racing / De Burgh Equine at the Magic Millions this year for $80,000.

Darby Racing scored earlier in the day with God of Thunder at Rosehill (read about him here) and will be hoping the winning run continues on Saturday at Randwick where Mark Newnham will send out their Star Witness colt Exceed the Stars as favourite in the Group III ATC Breeders Plate.