Baker’s Dozen Contest the Australian Oaks

A deep field of 13 fillies goes to post for the G1 Seven News Australian Oaks at Royal Randwick Saturday, with Savaria (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) an interesting challenger from New Zealand. 

The Roydon Bergerson trainee filly brings Classic form to the table, having won the G1 New Zealand Oaks at Trentham on her last start Mar. 14. However, a race that would appear to hold the key to finding the winner of Saturday’s race is the Mar. 28 G1 Vinery Stud S. run at Rosehill. Four of the first five finishers from that race renew their rivalry in the Oaks, headed by the victorious Fenway (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}). That score, which was her first since winning her maiden at first asking at Bendigo in October, represented a career best for the A$700,000 Inglis Easter yearling purchase and she should appreciate the step-up to 2400 meters. 

Despite only finishing fifth in the Vinery Stud, the Chris Waller trained Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) looks like starting favourite for the race, based partly on her penultimate outing in which she beat Hauraki (Aus) (Reset {Aus}) in the G2 Phar Lap S. at Rosehill Mar. 14. This piece of form looks even better now following the classy effort of Hauraki in claiming second behind Mongolian Khan (NZ) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) in Monday’s G1 Australian Derby Monday. Joao Moreira takes over in the saddle from Tommy Berry on Saturday, with the latter set to steer her stablemate Wine Tales (Aus) (Tale of the Cat). 

Further intrigue is added to the race with the presence of Vinery Stud third and fourth Thunder Lady (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and Ballet Suite (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}). Thunder Lady, trained by John Sargent at Randwick, was a high-class runner last year, winning the G2 Wakeful S. at Flemington Nov. 1 and following up with a second in the G1 Crown Oaks five days later. She has taken a few runs to recapture her form this year, but seems to be peaking at the right time. Coolmore and partners’ Ballet Suite gives trainer Chris Waller a strong hand in the race, has the added benefit of having Ryan Moore in the saddle and is another that should appreciate the stiffer distance test. 

The most recent form in the race is represented by Candelara (Aus) (Real Saga {Aus}) with trainer Bjorn Baker obviously happy to turn out last Mondays G3 Adrian Knox S. right back.