Australian Oaks On The Agenda For Honesta

Honesta was the bridesmaid in a number of feature races during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival, but trainer John Thompson is hopeful that she can go one better in the 2016 Australian Oaks during her upcoming autumn campaign.

Honesta was narrowly denied by Speak Fondly in the 2015 Flight Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Honesta was narrowly denied by Speak Fondly in the 2015 Flight Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Honesta started her lengthy spring campaign with a fourth place finish at the Sunshine Coast on July 4 and she finished second at Doomben on July 18 before she recorded back-to-back wins in the Coastal Fresh Handicap (1600m) on August 1 and the Brandons Handicap (1640m) on August 15.

The Monaco Consul filly made her debut at Group level with a fast-finishing seconds behind Pearls in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on September 19 and she was only narrowly denied a maiden Group 1 victory by Gai Waterhouse-trained Speak Fondly in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 3.

Honesta was then sent to Melbourne and she finished second again behind Dawnie Perfect in the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 17 before she chased home the talented Jameka to finish her spring campaign with yet another second in the Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington November 5.

Thompson was happy with the way that Honesta performed during the spring, but he is confident that she still has plenty of improvement left in front of her and he confirmed that she would be set for the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick on April 16.

“I thought she was quite immature and she was doing all that just on ability,” Thompson said.

“If she can come back with a bit more maturity and improve a bit than the world is her oyster.

“She is a nice filly, she is very tough and she continues to do well and thrive.

“She will trial at about the same time as First Seal and head to the races after that.”

Thompson is chasing his first win in the Australian Oaks after previously finishing fifth with Longport in 2013 and third with Run For Naara in 2010.

Honesta is currently available at 2016 Australian Oaks odds of $9 and she is on the second line of betting behind Jameka, while Ambience ($11), Dawnie Perfect ($13), Dawn Of Hope ($13), Backstreet Lover ($13), Pasadena Girl ($13) and Sacred Eye ($13) have been kept safe in early betting.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.