By Dane Squance
A winner of the G1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) last start, the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) has really appreciated the step up in trip of late and as one of two 'Oaks' winners in the field, the filly seems to hold all the cards in the G1 James Boag's Premium Australian Oaks. Set to be partnered for the first time by Hugh Bowman, the three-time stakes winner has never raced on anything worse that a dead 5 rated surface and with the Randwick track expected to race in the slow range, there may be some query, but her form suggests she is good enough to take the prize.
Defeated at her last three starts by Boneneval, Shaun Ritchie's Devise (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) went down by a half-length margin last time out in the New Zealand Oaks, and if there are any flaws in the fellow New Zealander raider, this filly could be the one to take advantage. Of the Australian-raced brigade, it is interestingly a pair of New Zealand-bred runners who look capable in the A$1-millon race. Second and third respectively in the G1 Vinery S. (2000m), runner-up Nurse Kitchen (NZ) (Savabeel {NZ}) has never raced at the trip before but her narrow loss produced the best closing 200m sectional of the race, outlining that they extra distance should be of no concern to connections.
Harlow Gold (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), third in the Vinery, was a runner-up during the spring in the G1 Crown Oaks (2500m) when she came from well back in the field to finish just under four lengths from the winner Lasqueti Spirit (Aus) (Beneteau {Aus}) who she will also meet here. Trainer Lee Curtis has had his Group 1-winning filly Lasqueti Spirit racing against the older horses this campaign and with a two length second to Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) three starts back before two slightly disappointing performances over 2000m and 2400m, the positive here is the filly is back to her own age group.
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