The John O’Shea trained Terai revealed her potential as a Queensland Oaks contender with a last to first win in the $40,000 Hyland Race Colours BenchMark 75 Handicap (1900m) at Canterbury today.
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy is keen to see Terai get her chance in the Queensland Oaks. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Terai was O’Shea’s first metropolitan winner since he took over as head trainer for Darley Australia and the Teofilo filly could be his first Group 1 winner for the giant racing and breeding operation if she can win the $400,000 Treasury Casino & Hotel Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31.
Terai was stepping up from a second over 1600m at Wyong on May 1 and really appreciated the extra distance and stretched out nicely when Kerrin McEvoy angled her to the middle of the short Canterbury straight.
“She has always given us the impression that the added trip would suit her and we did that for the first time today and that was really dominant”, Darley representative Jason Walsh told TVN.
“The jockey commented last start that the ground wasn’t to her liking that’s definitely played in her favour. Up in trip, up in grade, she’s met that mark today.”
Terai was only having her eighth race start and McEvoy gave the filly a good post race report and expects her to improve dramatically when she steps up further in distance on the bigger Eagle Farm track for the Queensland Oaks.
“It’s probably worth throwing the dice, she is in good form and it’s going to be the last black type race she races in as a three year old”, McEvoy said.
Terai was sent out at the good odds of $9.50 after drifting out from her opening quote of $5.50 on course and was eased down over the final thirty metres to win by one and three quarter lengths from White Devon ($11) and the $4.80 favourite Absolutelyanything.
Today’s win has seen Terai shorten considerably in Queensland Oaks betting with Ladbrokes.com.au now offering $17 after $41 was available at the start of the day.
New Zealand filly Telepathic has been installed the $4.40 favourite following her eye catching second to Amexed in the Group 3 $125,000 Mittys Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben last Saturday with former Kiwi filly Hera the second pick at $4.80 just shading the in-form Arabian Gold who is posted as a $5 chance.
