Talented filly Omei Sword heads up trainer Chris Waller’s list of fillies that are among the nominations for the for the 2017 Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 8, day two of ‘The Championships’.
Omei Sword, above, is among trainer Chris Waller’s Australian Oaks nominations. Photo by Steve Hart.
Omei Sword is one of eleven fillies Waller entered for the fillies classic that has attracted a total of 128 nominations.
The High Chaparral filly was due to kick off her Sydney Autumn campaign last Saturday at Randwick but had to be scratched from the Group 3 $150,000 Australian Chinese Jockey Club Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) when she developed some muscle soreness and has been entered in the Group 2 $200,000 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick this Saturday.
Waller’s high profile filly Foxplay is also entered in the Australian Oaks and could clash with Omei Sword in the Light Fingers Stakes.
Foxplay was sent out as one of the favourites for the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival but finished two and three quarter lengths behind Global Glamour in fourth spot.
Sezanne also showed plenty of promise in the Spring with a second to Global Glamour in the Group 1 $500,000 Sydney Airport Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick followed by a second to Nurse Kitchen in the Group 2 $200,000 P.W. Glass Fillies Classic (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
The Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig have matched Waller in the nominations numbers for the Australian Oaks with Harlow Gold appearing to be their leading chance.
Harlow Gold worked her way up through the classes during the Spring and showed staying ability with a second to runaway winner Lasqueti Spirit in the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 3.
Melbourne’s leading trainer Darren Weir is light on numbers for the Australian Oaks with the promising Jennifer Lynn the best performed filly from his three nominations.
Jennifer Lynn was in the winner’s circle after taking out the Listed $150,000 Lexus Hybrid Plate (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day last year before running third to Morton’s Fork in the Group 2 $250,000 Ladbrokes Sandown Guineas (1600m) at Sandown on November 12.
The High Chaparral filly has kicked off her Autumn campaign with a first up second in an 1100m 3yo Plate at Flemington on January 28.
The Kiwi fillies always make an impact in the Australian Oaks results and Cambridge co-trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsam have the well performed Eleonora heading their four nominations for the fillies classic.
Eleonora was one of the star fillies of the 2016 Melbourne Spring carnival with a win in the Group 3 $150,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield followed by a third to Lasqueti Spirit in the Crowns Oaks.
Another Kiwi filly to keep an eye on is the Shaune Ritchie trained Devise who has the potential to develop into a handy stayer being by the top New Zealand stallion Darci Brahma who sired 2012 New Zealand Oaks winner Artistic and 2015 Australian Oaks winner Gust Of Wind.
