Victorian filly Redasun will have to overcome another horror barrier when she lines in the Group 1 $400,000 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Redasun has drawn a horror barrier in the Australasian Oaks at Morphettville. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.
The Greg Eurell trained Redasun strung two wins together over 1600m at Sandown before heading to Adelaide to run in Group 3 $115,000 Schweppervescence Stakes (Registered as Auraria Stakes) (1800m) at Morphettville on April 18.
Redasun jumped from barrier fourteen in the eighteen horse field on that occasion and made up some ground in the straight after settling midfield to finish fifth to Fitocracy.
Eurell was hoping for a change of luck but that didn’t happen with the Haradasun filly coming up with the visitor’s drew again of eighteen in the sixteen horse field plus four emergencies.
The final field will be trimmed back to sixteen on Saturday and if the four emergencies fail to gain a start, Redasun will jump from gate fourteen in the Australasian Oaks which is run under the sponsor’s name now and is called the Schweppes Oaks.
Eurell said that Redasun was in fine shape following her run in the Auraria Stakes and it is now Steven Arnold’s job to overcome the wide draw.
“Steve will have to work that one out now and just see how it all pans out from jump,” Eurell told Racing Ahead.
“She is very adaptable. Had we drawn in it just would have been lovely, probably be a little bit closer than what she was last start.”
Eurell said that Redasun had done every right in the lead up to the Oaks but was disappointed to have drawn out in the car park again.
“We have been very very happy with her,” Eurell said.
“You work up to these races and hope everything falls into place, which it all has, but the last part of the puzzle was going to be the barrier.”
“Her lead up has been terrific. She is very consistent, in great shape herself, but unfortunately she is going to have a little bit of a tougher task from out there.”
Auraria Stakes winner Fitocracy has drawn midfield at ten while Kansas Sunflower, who was beaten a lip by that filly last start, has drawn the extreme outside of the field and will jump from gate sixteen.
Interstate fillies Fenway (barrier 6) and Fontein Ruby (barrier 2) have drawn in close while Chris Waller’s only runner Wine Tales with High Bowman to ride, has come up with barrier eight in the original draw.
Fenway was forced to miss a run in the Group 1 $1m Seven News Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 11 after she developed a foot abscess following her win in the Group 1 $400,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 28.
Fontein Ruby is racing in outstanding form with wins at her last two starts in the Listed $120,000 Schweppes Alexandra Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on March 27 and the $250,000 Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria VOBIS Gold Reef (1600m) at Caulfield on April 18.
