Trainer Lisa Latta has revealed that the 2015 Australian Oaks is a potential option for talented New Zealand-trained filly Platinum Witness after she scored an impressive victory in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday.
Lisa Latta is hoping that Platinum Witness can replicate the feat of Rising Romance and win the 2015 Australian Oaks for New Zealand. Photo by: Steve Hart
Platinum Witness made a slow start to her racing career, but she stamped herself as a filly to watch when she scored an impressive two and a half lengths win in the Listed Armadillo Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton Park (1600m) on October 25 and was far from disgraced when fourth behind Turn Me Loose in the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) ahead of her 1000 Guineas win.
Latta told Racing Ahead that a trip to Australia is definitely on the agenda for Platinum Witness and she said that both the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick during The Championships and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) during the 2015 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival are possible targets for the daughter of California Dane.
“I definitely wouldn’t rule it out and I think that she will definitely get an Oaks distance the way that she relaxes,” Latta said.
“It is just whether we look at the AJC Oaks or maybe even Queensland, but we will see how she comes.
“She does just relax and I think that she will get over more ground.”
The pedigree of Platinum Witness does not suggest that she will be capable of running out a strong 2400 metres, but Latta believes that the way the three-year-old relaxes in her races will help her run out the staying trip.
Jockey Darryl Bradley elected to position Platinum Witness just behind the leaders in the early stages of the New Zealand 2000 Guineas, but Latta said the impressive nature of her New Zealand 1000 Guineas win indicates that the filly is far better suited when settled towards the tail of the field and given a chance to find her feet in the early stages of her races.
“I think those better fillies show it right away and she definitely did,” Latta said.
“The week before she ran in the 2000 Guineas and she drew three so we rode her just in behind the speed and she got up and travelled a little bit keenly and she didn’t finish it off quiet as well.
“We decided to settle her back a bit further on Saturday and she relaxed beautifully.”
