With her amazing performance in the Derby, Rising Romance showed she’s clearly the best filly in the country (over classic distances, anyway – I haven’t forgotten you, the ball of electrifying speed known as Bounding). Her connections have opted for a short rest, followed by a trip to Sydney to take on the Australians, so her absence really affects this Oaks field.
Here’s the odds at the moment.
Miss Selby 2.80f
Rock Diva 4.50
Moozoon 8.50
Chop Chop 8.50
Include 12
Sports Illustrated 14
The Fire Inside 16
Hot Rod 18
Miss Mossman 21
Far Fetched 25
Tiara 30
Queenoftheamazon 41
Zanotti 41
Eyeful Tower 81
It’s worth noting that Waikato Stud bred and own three of these fillies. Sports Illustrated, Far Fetched and Tiara will all carry their white, green and blue silks. Amazing feat!
Let’s take a look at some of the leading contenders:
MISS SELBY
O’Reilly – Singing Star
6:2-3-1
1st Lowland Stakes (G3)
2nd Desert Gold Stakes (G3)
2nd Eulogy Stakes (G3)
Trained by John Bary (of Jimmy Choux fame), this filly has done everything exactly right this season. She came second to Spellbinder in a maiden on debut, then cleared maidens next time out. From there it was straight to stakes level, and she produced flying finishes to finish second in both the Eulogy and Desert Gold Stakes. Those races were both over a mile, and it was obvious she was going to improve when she stepped up over more distance. That happened in the Lowland, and she won it impressively. The mile and a half is going to suit her.
ROCK DIVA
Lucky Unicorn – Bohemian Blues (so a half-sister to multiple G1 winner SHAMROCKER)
4:2-1-1
1st Sunline Vase (G3)
A filly most of us hadn’t really heard of before the Sunline Vase, Rock Diva produced one of the most spectacular performances all week to win that key Oaks prep at Ellerslie. She made us all go, “Wait, who’s that? Oh my... Wow!” She was jaw-dropping. And the 2400m should pose no problems. Owned by Raffles, trained by Pike/Donoghue and ridden by Innes, the connections are exactly the same as 2013 Oaks winner More Than Sacred. History could be about to repeat.
MOOZOON
Perfectly Ready - Mizzna
9:4-1-0
1st Desert Gold Stakes (G3)
2nd Sunline Vase (G3)
Bred and owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum and trained by Stephen McKee, this filly has had an outstanding 3-year-old campaign. She won four races in a row through the summer, including a win over Oaks favourite Miss Selby in the Desert Gold Stakes at Trentham (the Oaks venue) in January. But there are some lingering doubts about her stamina – doubts that weren’t eased with the way Rock Diva ran straight past her in the Sunline Vase.
CHOP CHOP
Guillotine – Go Hayley Go
7:2-1-1
4th Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic (G2)
5th Lowland Stakes (G3)
Suddenly captured everyone’s attention with a highly impressive win at Trentham in January. Hasn’t had a lot of luck in her two stakes tries since that win, and deserves to be forgiven for her disappointing results. Trained by Shaune Ritchie, who’s a two-time Oaks winner – Keep The Peace (2010) and Artistic (2012).
INCLUDE
Gallant Guru – She’s Snubbed
7:5-0-0
1st Dunedin Guineas (L)
1st Southland Guineas (L)
The mystery horse of the field. She’s compiled a massively impressive record in her career so far, but all of her racing has been in the traditionally weaker South Island. But she has beaten male horses in stakes races in her last two starts, including a five-length romp in the Southland Guineas last time. She handles all track conditions, which could be in her favour if the rain predicted for Wellington this weekend hits before the Oaks.