120 Included in 2015 Australian Oaks Nominations

February 9, 2015 by
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A classy list of 120 three-year-old fillies have been included in nominations for the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on Day 2 of The Championships, highlighted by the inclusion of several previous winners at the highest level of Australian racing.

Crown Oaks winner Set Square has been included in 2015 Australian Oaks nominations. Photo: Sarah Ebbett

Crown Oaks winner Set Square has been included in 2015 Australian Oaks nominations. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia

Breaking through for a maiden Group 1 victory in just her fourth career start in 2014, trainer Ciaron Maher has included Set Square in 2015 Australian Oaks nominations.

Placing a credible third in a minor over 1354m on debut at Donald on September 16th, Set Square broke through for a maiden victory in a Ballarat maiden event over a mile on October 8th before making a successful transition to black type racing in winning the Listed Ethereal Stakes (2000m) on October 18th.

Jumping from the gates well in the featured Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) on November 6th, the Reset filly settled in good position on the fence, but was unlucky to be checked at the 1800m mark.

Pressing forward rounding onto the final straight at Flemington, Set Square displayed an exceptional turn of foot late to hit the line close to two lengths in the clear of closest rival and fellow 2015 Australian Oaks nominee Thunder Lady.

Trained by John Sargent, Thunder Lady stamped her claims as a serious racing contender over the 2014 Spring Carnival and has reportedly taken well to her time in the paddock over summer.

Securing minor place finishes in maiden country events through September, Thunder Lady was unlucky to be blocked for a run and fifth in the Listed Dulcify Quality (1600m) on October 4th, but responded well in finishing third in the Newcastle Handicap Maiden (1850m) on October 18th and winning the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) in her only other start prior to the Crown Oaks.

Talented filly First Seal was a standout performer for John Thompson over spring, and will be aiming to deliver the Randwick trainer further success at the highest level this season having also been included in 2015 Australian Oaks nominations.

Finishing outside the top three just once over six competitive starts, First Seal posted an impressive first-up victory in the Daily Press Group Plate (1100m) upon returning to racing in spring; running second to Sweynesse in a Rosehill minor over 1400m on August 30th before taking out the Group 3 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) in a commanding display on September 20th.

Charging home to win the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) despite overracing early a fortnight later, the Fastnet Rock filly was unable to match the late pace of Hampton Court when second in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) last time out on October 11th, but displayed a keen ability to perform over the distance.

Kiwi filly Rising Romance won the 2014 edition of the Australian Oaks in impressive fashion, while countryman Lucia Valentina boxed on late to finish a credible third.

New Zealand is poised to be offered several good chances of defending their crown this year, with the likes of Mary Quant and Eyes Of Love included in nominations.

Securing several impressive results over the early stages of her maiden preparation, Mary Quant appeared to be fading in form when finishing sixth in the New Zealand Herald Maiden (1600m) on December 28th, but reassured her chances of a trip to Australia over the weekend when attacking to line to win the Wexford Stables Maiden (2000m) by a comfortable length.

Saddled by the training partnership of Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, who have most recently claimed success in Australia via classy short distance specialist El Roca, Eyes Of Love ran an impressive second in the Turf Bar Maiden (1400m) on debut in January; repeating the dose in the Farmer Autovilliage Maiden (1600m) at Tauranga on February 5th.

Ladbrokes Australia currently rates First Seal a $5 favourite for success in the 2015 Australian Oaks, ahead of Set Square ($6) and the Chris Waller-trained Winx ($7).

2015 Australian Oaks Nominations

# Last 10 Horse Trainer Benchmark
1 611x ADRIFT (NZ) Gai Waterhouse 67
2 09x883x ALL KOOL Diane Poidevin-Laine N/A
3 316x3221x AMICUS Chris Waller 101
4 218x ARIANNE (NZ) Pat Hyland N/A
5 8x12x BABY DON’T CRY Peter Morgan & Craig Widdison N/A
6 521x BALLET SUITE Chris Waller N/A
7 4x12x BAYOONAH Mick Price N/A
8 12x4x BETSY Peter G Moody N/A
9 41x BILLIE FRECHETTE (NZ) Ciaron Maher N/A
10 4x BLACK VELVETEEN Michael Kent N/A
11 1x BOHEMIAN LILY (NZ) Gai Waterhouse N/A
12 8x BRONTE BABE John Sargent N/A
13 x931x2237x CANDELARA Bjorn Baker 72
14 6x41369x CAREER John O’Shea 59
15 14x CASHLA BAY David Hayes & Tom Dabernig N/A
16 33x CHARMONT Murray Baker N/A
17 296221x CHENILLE (NZ) Tony Pike N/A
18 642x511x CHOSEN PRAYER Joseph Pride 68
19 987231x CLASSIQUE Paul Perry 61
20 2x CLOUDBURST Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes N/A
21 – COFFEE HIT Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes N/A
22 35x COMANECI Danny O’Brien N/A
23 53x CYRENE Mick Price N/A
24 7130x8x DANE HUSSLER David Hayes & Tom Dabernig N/A
25 443x DELPHIC John O’Shea N/A
26 3x76x DHAHAB Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes N/A
27 63x DOESN’T MAKE SENSE Mark Schmetzer N/A
28 15x DUBROVNIK John O’Shea 63
29 93x DUPORCHE Kevin Moses N/A
30 854x56x EAST AFRIKA Pat Carey N/A
31 43x EMBRACE THE ROCK David Hayes & Tom Dabernig N/A
32 50x EXCLUSIVE HEIGHTS Paul Rocke N/A
33 22x EYES OF LOVE (NZ) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young N/A
34 143x FENWAY Lee & Shannon Hope N/A
35 4x12112x FIRST SEAL John P Thompson 103
36 26x2x GIN LIZZIE Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra N/A
37 1x GIN SWING (NZ) Tony Pike N/A
38 – GIROUETTE John O’Shea N/A
39 860x50543x GOLCONDA Robbie Laing N/A
40 7x53642x GRANNY SMITH Anthony Cummings N/A
41 – HARIIR Gai Waterhouse N/A
42 – HART (NZ) Ciaron Maher N/A
43 3x HEAVENS ABOVE Tim Martin N/A
44 99x HERBERINA David Hayes & Tom Dabernig N/A
45 315x HIGH ABOVE Anthony Cummings N/A
46 0x7x HIGH COUNTRY David Vandyke N/A
47 4336484x HIPSTER GIRL Jason Warren N/A
48 – HOT DEVILS Anthony Cummings N/A
49 052x IN A JIFFY (NZ) John Sargent N/A
50 42x JOYFUL JOURNEY Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes N/A
51 3x2x KEIKOSAN Ken Callaughan N/A
52 04x KIPUKA Nick Mitchell N/A
53 44x7x LA BELLA ROUGE Danny Williams N/A
54 35x340x20x LA CICCIOLINA David Hayes & Tom Dabernig N/A
55 – LA MUSICIENNE Nigel Blackiston N/A
56 845x4x LA STUPENDA Kerry Parker N/A
57 1x6470x25x LADY MACAN David Payne N/A
58 36x1366x LADY SHARAPOVA Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes N/A
59 5x0x604x LAMPLIGHTER Clarry Conners N/A
60 622x LIKE XENA Anthony Cummings N/A
61 93x LINSANG John O’Shea N/A
62 177x LITTLE HOTTIE (NZ) Michael Kent N/A
63 499683184x LOBBAN DYNAMITE Robert Barnes 47
64 3x61580x4x LUCKY RAQUIE Gerald Ryan 79
65 4x432x18x LUXURY Danny Williams 61
66 1x122x4x MAASTRICHT (NZ) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 77
67 54x6632x MANHATTAN MOON Marc Conners N/A
68 5x MARAUDAMISS Michael Kent N/A
69 454x25163x MAROCAN DIVA David Hayes & Tom Dabernig N/A
70 714x7111x MARPLE MISS Kris Lees N/A
71 2x MARY QUANT (NZ) Lance O’Sullivan N/A
72 7x205x228x MING Gai Waterhouse N/A
73 500x1699x MISS INTERIORS Anthony Cummings N/A
74 9x5113108x MUSCOVADO Gai Waterhouse N/A
75 16x3x MUY BIEN Anthony Cummings 62
76 44x NAKATAAN (NZ) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes N/A
77 2x316x NAZCA John O’Shea 66
78 – NINTH CHANCE John Sargent N/A
79 24x551x NOUVELLE AGAIN David Hayes & Tom Dabernig N/A
80 013x ONDINA Gai Waterhouse 65
81 13x PEEPING Ron Quinton 65
82 6x21x42x PINCHME Gai Waterhouse 66
83 0x11x PIPI BEEL (NZ) Murray Baker N/A
84 232x PLATINUM WITNESS Lisa Latta N/A
85 80x1656x PRECIA Gai Waterhouse N/A
86 1x PRIMEIRO Greg Eurell N/A
87 4646x QUINT AUSTRALIS Carmen Murnane N/A
88 9x RAINDROPS ON ROSES Nigel Blackiston N/A
89 7x22310x ROYAL OCEAN Mick Price N/A
90 5124x3x RUSTIC MELODY Kris Lees N/A
91 22x815112x SAAVOYA (NZ) Murray Baker N/A
92 0x0742224x SANDY WATERS Paul Cave N/A
93 043x SENSE IN THE CITY Pat Carey N/A
94 3111x SET SQUARE Ciaron Maher N/A
95 – SHAAHIDA Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes N/A
96 8x67x10x SHAMARDAL GOLD Gai Waterhouse 62
97 1x SHANZAM Bjorn Baker 53
98 714x55x SHELLEY’S GIRL Gwenda Markwell 61
99 051x SIDRAH Danny Williams N/A
100 00x SIGNATURE MISS Kerry Parker N/A
101 161x SLIGHTLY SWEET Jason Coyle 71
102 3x754x STARZEL Gerald Ryan N/A
103 x77444132x STRATALENA Clarry Conners 61
104 2x SUFFIRE (NZ) Lance O’Sullivan N/A
105 213x1x SWEET AND SPEEDY Peter G Moody N/A
106 49x1x SWIFT LADY (NZ) John Sargent 55
107 00x818x TALISA Gai Waterhouse 63
108 0x45x3x TELAAWA David Hayes & Tom Dabernig N/A
109 64x325312x THUNDER LADY (NZ) John Sargent N/A
110 0x5x3x TIARE Gai Waterhouse N/A
111 2326x2x9x TWIRL Gai Waterhouse N/A
112 22x231121x VAVASOUR (NZ) Peter J Williams N/A
113 1x4x VELOCE FORTE Peter & Paul Snowden 65
114 36x VIA CAVOUR Mark Webb N/A
115 01x474331x WILDENSTEIN Paul Perry 65
116 12x2152x WINE TALES Chris Waller N/A
117 – WINTER SWEET Gai Waterhouse N/A
118 11x122x WINX Chris Waller 96
119 631x ZARZALI Bart & James Cummings N/A
120 43x ZILLOW Ron Quinton N/A

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Jared Timms

Jared graduated with a journalism degree in 2011. He is a keen sports fan and has enjoyed many accolades for his lively writing style and comprehensive coverage of major sporting events and horse racing. Today, you can find Jared cheering on his beloved Manchester City with a beer in hand.