Girl In Flight has been included in the 2014 Australasian Oaks field, but will need a bit of luck to score her maiden win at Group 1 level after drawing barrier 13 for the $400,000 race that will be held at Morphettville on Saturday.
Girl In Flight is chasing her maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2014 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville on Saturday. Photo by: Jenny Barnes
Girl In Flight started her autumn campaign with a string of consistent performances in the Group 3 The Vanity (1400m), Group 2 Kewney Stakes (1400m) and Listed Alexandra Stakes (1600m) before returning to winning form in the Group 3 Schweppervescence Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville on April 12.
The Commands filly will be steeping up to 2000 metres for the first time in her racing career on Saturday, but trainer Robbie Griffiths has set her for this race and is confident that she will be able to run out the trip strongly.
Another leading contender that did not fare well in the 2014 Australasian Oaks barrier draw is May’s Dream, who will jump from barrier 13.
May’s Dream has shown that she is capable of running out a strong 2000 metres, finishing second behind Kirramosa in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 2, and worked home strongly when third behind Girl In Flight in the Schweppervescence Stakes.
Peter Moody has four fillies in the 2014 Australasian Oaks field and has an excellent chance of scoring his second win in the race after taking out the 2011 edition of the event with Lights Of Heaven.
Headlining the Moody Charge in the Australasian Oaks is In Masquerade (barrier five), who is going into the race on the back of two strong second place showings in the Listed Laelia Stakes (1600m) and Schweppervescence Stakes, while he will also be represented by Quayside (barrier eight), Lady Tatia (barrier two) and Akagera (barrier 16).
Other Victorian-trained fillies in the Australasian Oaks Field are Every Faith (barrier 14), Star Fashion (barrier six), Scratchy Bottom (barrier seven), Love The Rock (barrier nine), Rasa Lila (barrier one) and Navajo Run (barrier four).
One of the leading locally-trained fillies in the 2014 Australasian Oaks is Leon Macdonald-trained Artistic Lass, but the Myboycharlie filly will have to jump from the outside barrier in the Group 1 event.
Artistic Lass made her Group 1 debut in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on April 5 and is a consistent performer over 2000 metres, but no horse has won the Australasian Oaks from barrier 16 in the past 30 years.
The 2014 Australasian Oaks field is rounded out by Atatood (barrier 17), Miss Carobose (barrier three) and Rebelle (barrier 11).
