New Plymouth Raceway Results (Race 6)

Saturday, 3rd February 2018

6
15:44
(local)

Oaks Prelude (LR)

Age: 3yo Sex: F Type: OPEN
NZD $55,000
1800m TURF GOOD
6
15:44
(local)
NZD $55,000
1800m GOOD

Oaks Prelude (LR)

Age: 3yo Sex: F Type: OPEN

This Listed 3yo filly only race came at 1800m so the contenders for the G1 Oaks (2400m) on March17 are starting to weed out the pretenders. The race was marred when the favourite Lily The Pink was scratched behind the barriers due to lameness. The winner and incredibly easily was the maiden before today in Treasure that had in three runs prior finished third, fourth and fifth equal. Today was her first race left handed and obviously at blacktype and after getting back she was cut loose and swept up quickly and ominously to third and widest turning for home. She led at the 200m and powered away to win by two and a half lengths in 1:51.28, which is a reasonable time and looks better as the following event, a G3 for Open Class was run and won in 1:50.14. Treasure was just over a second (six to almost seven lengths) inferior to the older horses and that is a decent barometer. The track record for 1800m on this circuit is 1:49 for some overall perspective. Her stablemate Caricature was always third or fourth in the running and improved wide across the top before turning for home second and she held that spot to the line. Luxe, a maiden filly, was midfield the inner and got off across the top before coming through gamely and hit the line well to get third at the 25m albeit beaten over three and a quarter lengths. Miss Foxy Gal ran an honest fourth after sitting in the trail and once worked off near the home turn was going well but got held up then she clipped a heel and dipped. The filly then fought on from sixth to reach fourth at the 200m and that unfortunate incident almost certainly cost her third money and the more valuable Listed placing. Blanco Belle was wide second early then got up outsider the leader only to take over turning for home before being narrowly headed into third at the 200m,. She wilted late as that extra early work and then challenging again took a toll and unsurprisingly wilted to fifth beaten just under four lengths. Terra Firma ran on okay from well back for a maiden and looks a stayer already. Anevay was a couple of lengths further behind and boxed on okay considering she was checked at the 200m. In The Clear got back the outer then made a run four-wide across the top so was left without a real finish the run home. King’s Vee sat last on her own and passed a few and she is a maiden winner in waiting like a few in this. Sunburst led up and was headed near the home turn before puncturing while the last three home never looked likely and got beaten ten to almost eighteen lengths. To be fair to the last finisher Veuve Cliquot she copped a bad check across the top and went back sharply but whether going well enough at the time is debatable. Treasure looks a stamina find filly but this was not a deep field at all so until she puts away more serious opposition there is still another box to tick. She was dominant enough today to think making the leap is more than likely and when seen over 2000m to 2100m next then her Oaks credentials will be on full exposure. Caricature, the stablemate of the winner, also like her started racing in December so Summer has seen the pair grow and thrive. Miss Foxy Gal has more wins in store but whether she is a mile and a half filly is the query at the moment though it is more on ability at this age and maturity. Blanco Belle may need rain-affected going to really shine but her second dam is by Zabeel and that is golden ticket for 3yo 2400m races. Terra Firma is an improving filly that started in racing in December, like the first two home, and find the line well.