15 fillies have accepted with just one Group I winner in the field in
Amphitrite, who has been a revelation this spring going from maiden to Group I
MRC Thousand Guineas, so she’s the class horse and race favourite.1/ Amphitrite (Sebring x Ocean Dream, by Redoute’s Choice) – Undefeated this spring until luckless 11th in the G1 Empire Rose Stakes over 1600m against older mares last Saturday beaten three lengths.
By a versatile sire in Sebring that has had Oaks and Derby winners and dam won up to 1600m and is a half-sister to Marble Halls, a high class mile to 2000m horse.
In all honesty it’s probably a pedigree that suggests 2000m would be
optimum, but class will carry her a long way and grand-dam is by Noble Bijou
(USA), an outstanding staying influence who might just her get her over the
line.
2/ Aristia (Lonhro x Nakaaya by Tiger Hill (IRE) – Broke her maiden winning the
traditional Oaks lead up, the G2 VRC Wakeful Stakes (2000m).
As good a stallion as Lonhro is, his record as a sire of 2000m plus stayers is almost non-existent, so we need to look hard at the female family here for some clue as to whether she will stay. Her dam Nakaaya was a G2 winner up to 1600m, but is by a Danehill stallion called Tiger Hill, who was very much a staying type and his dam is packed with German staying blood so that’s probably Aristia’s best hope for stamina, although her fourth dam Princess Talaria did finish third in a VRC Oaks, but was essentially a miler.
3/ Qafila (Not a Single Doubt x Zighy Bay, by Tapit) – Has only won one race at 1000m, but ran the best race of her current campaign when second in the Wakeful last Saturday.
By a sire that is hardly known for stayers although he did get the top class filly Single Gaze, who was second in a Caulfield Cup. I’m not suggesting Qafila is that good, but you can’t discount her on the basis of just her sire, given her US female pedigree is top class with plenty of stakes-winners up to around 2000m and her dam sire Tapit, has had Group I winners to 2400m.
4/ Verry Ellegaant (NZ) (Zed x Opulence, by Danroad) – Third in the G2 VRC
Edward Manifold Stakes, then won the G3 MRC Ethereal Stakes (2000m) before last
start troubled fifth in the Wakeful and will carry a nose roll in this.
Kiwi bred by a minor winning royally bred son of champion sire Zabeel and dam won up to 2100m. She’s line bred to Cotehele House (GB), a daughter of legendary producer Eight Carat, whose descendants include a legion of classic winners so distance unlikely to be a problem for this girl.
5/ Greysful Glamour (Stratum x Rippled (GB), by Dalakhani) – Won the Oaks Trial (1880m) at Flemington and then midfield in G3 MRC Ethereal Stakes at 2000m, but coming back to Flemington may suit her better as it did with Derby winner Extra Brut.
She is by a Golden Slipper winner in Stratum, but he did sire Streama to win an Oaks and her female pedigree is all high class European staying blood and includes imported Australian Group I winning stayer Libran. No surprise to see her return to her best form in this.
6/Sizzleme( Sizzling x Parnissius, by Zabeel) - Third in the Ethereal and fourth in the Wakeful, so she’s thereabouts in the key races.
From the first crop of a young G1 winning son of Snitzel, who did win up to 1600m. Dam is the key for stamina being by champion sire Zabeel from a daughter of a 2400m stakes-winner in France. Dam side has obviously come out on top as she does try hard.
7/ Dark Confidant (Pierro x Little Miss Smiley, by Husson (Arg) – Maiden winner at 1400m and best since then sixth in the Ethereal beaten seven and a half lengths.
By the sire of last year’s Oaks winner Pinot which is encouraging, but her immediate female family is more about speed and milers with her grand-dam by Fastnet Rock being a three-quarter sister to this seasons’ G2 MVRC Stutt Stakes winner Leonardo da Hinchi. If you go further back you will find Mystical Prince, who won a WA Derby and is by another Zabeel line sire Reset, so can’t discount her out of hand on pedigree.
8/ Miss Moana (NZ) (Uncle Mo (USA) x Coral Reef (IRE), by Galileo) - Has never raced outside of maiden class and did win her most recent run at Newcastle over 2350m, so can certainly stay.
Trained by a master conditioner of classic 3YOs in John Sargent and is a sister to Hollywood Mo, who was second in a Geelong Classic. First three dams are by world renowned sires Galileo, Danehill and Rainbow Quest, so am not going to knock her on pedigree.
9/ Maracaibo (Redoute’s Choice x Spanish Lake, by Encosta de Lago) – Four starts in easier grade in the country for two wins at Benalla and Canberra over 2000m.
By champion sire Redoute’s Choice, who has sired numerous Oaks and Derby winners. Dam comes from a big Black Type family going back to Group I mile and a half winners English Wonder, Dr Grace and Asia so can see why they are dreaming of an Oaks.
10/ Scamper (Fastnet Rock x Se Saveur, by Bel Esprit) – Has never raced outside of maiden class and won last start at Yarra Valley over 1950m.
Fastnet Rock has had his share of classic horses and her dam Se Saveur did win the G2 VRC Edward Manifold Stakes and is a half-sister to Group I SA Derby winner Escado. Pedigree far from hopeless in staying terms, but she’ll need to take a quantum leap in class.
11/ Zapurler (High Chaparral (IRE) x Zapurb, by Zabeel) – Has never raced outside of maiden class and won her last start at Echuca over 2140m. That was a big win and she is trained by Darren Weir and ridden by Hugh Bowman.
By leading sire of stayers High Chaparral and is from a full sister to G3 2500m winner Zapurple, who goes back to the Gypsy Moss family that has produced countless stakes-winners including classic winners Innocent King and Our Planet. This is an Oaks pedigree no question.
12/ Collectable (Sebring x Miss Keepsake, by Keeper) – Still a maiden after four starts, three seconds and then a last start fourth in the Ethereal Stakes.
Second runner in the race for Sebring and is from Queensland Oaks winner Miss Keepsake from the My Tricia family that has produced classic winners Grosvernor, National Gallery, Mahaya and more recently Tavago. Bred to win an Oaks one day even if it’s not this one.
13/ Exclusively Ours (Needs Further x Nonsensical, by Hussonet (USA) – One third placing in nine starts and was last in the Wakeful.
Sire is a Group III winning son of Encosta de Lago from the family of Zabeel, but overall pedigree gives no reason to think this longer contest will be any easier task for her.
14/ Miner’s Miss (Rebel Raider x Posnet by Gallo de Ferro (GB) - Has never raced out of maiden class and is last start winner over 1860m at Avoca.
Bred to stay all day and then some being by Victoria Derby winner Rebel Raider from a full sister to Pipkin, a stakes-winning stayer up to 2500m. Staying ability not in question, class may be an issue.
15/ Lesedi (Polanski x Diamond Broker, by Last Tycoon (IRE) – Never raced out of maiden class in six starts with two third placings.
From the first crop of Victoria Derby winner Polanski who is yet to sire a winner. Dam is from a different branch of the same family as Zapurler, so she has a good enough pedigree on the female side, but it would be a stretch to think the VRC Oaks will be her maiden win!
Selections
1/ Amphitrite
2/ Verry Elleegant
3/ Greysful Glamour
4/ Zapurler
Roughie - Collectable
All images Grant Courtney.
2/ Aristia (Lonhro x Nakaaya by Tiger Hill (IRE) – Broke her maiden winning the
traditional Oaks lead up, the G2 VRC Wakeful Stakes (2000m).As good a stallion as Lonhro is, his record as a sire of 2000m plus stayers is almost non-existent, so we need to look hard at the female family here for some clue as to whether she will stay. Her dam Nakaaya was a G2 winner up to 1600m, but is by a Danehill stallion called Tiger Hill, who was very much a staying type and his dam is packed with German staying blood so that’s probably Aristia’s best hope for stamina, although her fourth dam Princess Talaria did finish third in a VRC Oaks, but was essentially a miler.
3/ Qafila (Not a Single Doubt x Zighy Bay, by Tapit) – Has only won one race at 1000m, but ran the best race of her current campaign when second in the Wakeful last Saturday.
By a sire that is hardly known for stayers although he did get the top class filly Single Gaze, who was second in a Caulfield Cup. I’m not suggesting Qafila is that good, but you can’t discount her on the basis of just her sire, given her US female pedigree is top class with plenty of stakes-winners up to around 2000m and her dam sire Tapit, has had Group I winners to 2400m.
4/ Verry Ellegaant (NZ) (Zed x Opulence, by Danroad) – Third in the G2 VRC
Edward Manifold Stakes, then won the G3 MRC Ethereal Stakes (2000m) before last
start troubled fifth in the Wakeful and will carry a nose roll in this.Kiwi bred by a minor winning royally bred son of champion sire Zabeel and dam won up to 2100m. She’s line bred to Cotehele House (GB), a daughter of legendary producer Eight Carat, whose descendants include a legion of classic winners so distance unlikely to be a problem for this girl.
5/ Greysful Glamour (Stratum x Rippled (GB), by Dalakhani) – Won the Oaks Trial (1880m) at Flemington and then midfield in G3 MRC Ethereal Stakes at 2000m, but coming back to Flemington may suit her better as it did with Derby winner Extra Brut.
She is by a Golden Slipper winner in Stratum, but he did sire Streama to win an Oaks and her female pedigree is all high class European staying blood and includes imported Australian Group I winning stayer Libran. No surprise to see her return to her best form in this.
6/Sizzleme( Sizzling x Parnissius, by Zabeel) - Third in the Ethereal and fourth in the Wakeful, so she’s thereabouts in the key races.
From the first crop of a young G1 winning son of Snitzel, who did win up to 1600m. Dam is the key for stamina being by champion sire Zabeel from a daughter of a 2400m stakes-winner in France. Dam side has obviously come out on top as she does try hard.
7/ Dark Confidant (Pierro x Little Miss Smiley, by Husson (Arg) – Maiden winner at 1400m and best since then sixth in the Ethereal beaten seven and a half lengths.
By the sire of last year’s Oaks winner Pinot which is encouraging, but her immediate female family is more about speed and milers with her grand-dam by Fastnet Rock being a three-quarter sister to this seasons’ G2 MVRC Stutt Stakes winner Leonardo da Hinchi. If you go further back you will find Mystical Prince, who won a WA Derby and is by another Zabeel line sire Reset, so can’t discount her out of hand on pedigree.
8/ Miss Moana (NZ) (Uncle Mo (USA) x Coral Reef (IRE), by Galileo) - Has never raced outside of maiden class and did win her most recent run at Newcastle over 2350m, so can certainly stay.
Trained by a master conditioner of classic 3YOs in John Sargent and is a sister to Hollywood Mo, who was second in a Geelong Classic. First three dams are by world renowned sires Galileo, Danehill and Rainbow Quest, so am not going to knock her on pedigree.
9/ Maracaibo (Redoute’s Choice x Spanish Lake, by Encosta de Lago) – Four starts in easier grade in the country for two wins at Benalla and Canberra over 2000m.
By champion sire Redoute’s Choice, who has sired numerous Oaks and Derby winners. Dam comes from a big Black Type family going back to Group I mile and a half winners English Wonder, Dr Grace and Asia so can see why they are dreaming of an Oaks.
10/ Scamper (Fastnet Rock x Se Saveur, by Bel Esprit) – Has never raced outside of maiden class and won last start at Yarra Valley over 1950m.
Fastnet Rock has had his share of classic horses and her dam Se Saveur did win the G2 VRC Edward Manifold Stakes and is a half-sister to Group I SA Derby winner Escado. Pedigree far from hopeless in staying terms, but she’ll need to take a quantum leap in class.
11/ Zapurler (High Chaparral (IRE) x Zapurb, by Zabeel) – Has never raced outside of maiden class and won her last start at Echuca over 2140m. That was a big win and she is trained by Darren Weir and ridden by Hugh Bowman.
By leading sire of stayers High Chaparral and is from a full sister to G3 2500m winner Zapurple, who goes back to the Gypsy Moss family that has produced countless stakes-winners including classic winners Innocent King and Our Planet. This is an Oaks pedigree no question.
12/ Collectable (Sebring x Miss Keepsake, by Keeper) – Still a maiden after four starts, three seconds and then a last start fourth in the Ethereal Stakes.
Second runner in the race for Sebring and is from Queensland Oaks winner Miss Keepsake from the My Tricia family that has produced classic winners Grosvernor, National Gallery, Mahaya and more recently Tavago. Bred to win an Oaks one day even if it’s not this one.
13/ Exclusively Ours (Needs Further x Nonsensical, by Hussonet (USA) – One third placing in nine starts and was last in the Wakeful.
Sire is a Group III winning son of Encosta de Lago from the family of Zabeel, but overall pedigree gives no reason to think this longer contest will be any easier task for her.
14/ Miner’s Miss (Rebel Raider x Posnet by Gallo de Ferro (GB) - Has never raced out of maiden class and is last start winner over 1860m at Avoca.
Bred to stay all day and then some being by Victoria Derby winner Rebel Raider from a full sister to Pipkin, a stakes-winning stayer up to 2500m. Staying ability not in question, class may be an issue.
15/ Lesedi (Polanski x Diamond Broker, by Last Tycoon (IRE) – Never raced out of maiden class in six starts with two third placings.
From the first crop of Victoria Derby winner Polanski who is yet to sire a winner. Dam is from a different branch of the same family as Zapurler, so she has a good enough pedigree on the female side, but it would be a stretch to think the VRC Oaks will be her maiden win!
Selections
1/ Amphitrite
2/ Verry Elleegant
3/ Greysful Glamour
4/ Zapurler
Roughie - Collectable
All images Grant Courtney.
