May’s Dream Wins 2014 Australasian Oaks

Talented pre-post favourite May’s Dream has produced an incredible turn of foot to burst from the rear of the pack and win the major Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) on the line at Morphettville Racecourse this afternoon.

May's Dream bursts through a gap to claim the Group 1 Australian Oaks from Star Fashion

May's Dream bursts through a gap to claim the Group 1 Australian Oaks from Star Fashion (outside). Photo by Jenny Barnes

Breaking from the gates only fairly, the New Approach filly settled near the back of the main group nearly eight lengths off the pace of early leaders Akagera, Atatood and Rasa Lila, who set a reasonable tempo over the back straight.

Appearing well and truly out of contention upon rounding the final bend, May’s Dream quickly responded to calls for a lift in pace from jockey Brad Rawiller; finding a gap between runners to poke a nose clear of a fast-finishing Star Fashion and Scratchy Bottom.

Trainer Darren Weir was understandably thrilled with May’s Dream’s ability to run on and claim a major title from poor running position, and was quick to heap the praise on both the connections and the ride offered by Rawiller.

“It was a beautiful ride as it’s turned out, and that won the race” Weir said immediately after the Australasian Oaks.

“She’s showed a lot all along and it’s just great for the owners; they’ve been with me since I’ve had a trainer’s licence.

“She’s a lot like her mother (She’s Archie); very tough and can obviously stay.

“She got a bit light late in the spring, but she’s developed and hopefully we can bring her back this spring and win a better race.

“It’s great for them to get the result.”

Brad Rawiller served up a perfectly timed run on May’s Dream in the 2014 Australasian Oaks, and was thrilled to deliver win a well-earned Group 1 victory.

“This is really a fantastic win; Darren’s been a great supporter for a long time but at the end of the day I hadn’t ridden a Group 1 for him yet” Rawiller said immediately after dismounting.

“It just gives me great satisfaction to know that I’m a Group 1 winning rider for him now and he’s just so well deserved with all the effort he puts into racing and his horses.

“I was confident it was coming, but even at the 750 I wanted to get up behind Moody’s horse; he was terrific the other day and I knew it would be won going forward.

“It’s very hard if you go widest before you straighten and we had a part of the track we wanted to get to, so I thought I’d come in and we really had to fight to get it.

“When we got it we needed luck to get between those two; she did lose some momentum when she did it but she was all full of fight and it was a well-deserved win.”

Having now claimed four wins and five places from just eleven race starts, May’s Dream will now return to the spelling paddock ahead of a busy spring preparation.

About The Author

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.