Godolphin eyes Kevin Sharkie Tasmanian Oaks with smart filly

Honeycreeper aimed at Tasmanian Oaks last year.

HONEYCREEPER.
HONEYCREEPER. Picture: Racing Photos

The powerful Godolphin stable will send promising filly Honeycreeper across Bass Strait this week to tackle the Kevin Sharkie Tasmanian Oaks over 2100 metres in Launceston on Sunday.

Honeycreeper has won two from nine and is a last-start winner at Sandown last week over 1600m.

"We've had this race in mind for some time and she will take really good form into the race," James Cummings said from Melbourne on Wednesday.

The Oaks has attracted four interstate contenders of which one is Bundle Of Fun that has been in the state for a while and is now resident at Adam Trinder's Spreyton stables and was a luckless third in the Strutt Stakes in Hobart last Friday and was third in the Launceston Guineas the start prior.

The other invaders are the Patrick Payne-trained Pearl Rain and Prospettiva from the Matthew Williams stable at Warrnambool.

Payne described Pearl Rain as a tough little filly that has always showed staying promise.

"Her win at Colac over 2000m last Friday convinced me to take her to Tasmania because she's tough, she can stay and she always tries and that's all you can ask for," Payne said.

Williams said Prospettiva was purchased from New Zealand because of her staying pedigree.

The filly has had only two starts, both on her home track at Warrnambool, for a debut fourth over 1400m and a last start win over 1700m, and Blaike McDougall has been booked to ride the daughter of Reliable Man (GB).

Strutt Stakes winner Miss Charlie Brown has done well since her latest win and will go into the race the best-performed of the local contingent.

The Tasmanian Magic Millions Classics are another feature of Sunday's meeting with the 2YO over 1200m attracting eight acceptors of which Jaguar Stone from the Adam Trinder stable is likely to start favourite.

The 3 & 4YO Classic has already been reduced to a field of seven with the Lloyd Kennewell-trained Invincible Bay already scratched from the 1400-metre event but it remains a cracking field that includes First Accused, Le Cadeau, Warrior Prince and Azara.


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