Who will join the likes of Yuko Girl, Good Odds Cash and Blue Sky Riot as a Ladbrokes Richmond Oaks champion this Friday night? Here’s our runner-by-runner preview of the Group 2 feature worth $50,000 to the winner:
The G1 National Futurity runner-up draws the red for the fourth time in her last six starts and trainer Tommy Rees is the envy of every other participant in the state. If she can bounce out like she did l=in the heats and run 4.25 to the first mark, it’s hard to see her not featuring heavily in the final frame. Very consistent bitch who has 11 cheques from her first 13 race starts and is still just scratching the surface of what she could become. Brother won the National Derby final and mum, Furious Not Fast, won 17-races for connections. Youngest finalist by some margin and the fact she doesn’t turn two until April is scary.
One of several surprises in the heats seven days ago but comes into the final as the fastest qualifier following that 29.60 effort. Gets the exact same draw to rinse and repeat and a similar sort of run would probably make her an Oaks champion. Her form over the past two months has been sneaky good with seconds to handy types in Zipping Teresa (also an Oaks finalist), Canya Smoke Them and Fat Boy’s Charm. She also cleaned up a handy field at Nowra three back, winning in a blistering 29.49 over the likes of Oro Rojo (second in last year’s Ultra Sense), War Hawk (Maitland Cup placegetter), Modern Swinger (NSW Sprint champion) and Cumbria Kid (MDC runner-up).
She wasn’t slow away in the heats by any stretch, but she was quickly covered up by Hurricane Reign and once the clean-winded Embrace landed alongside her, her chances of winning were dashed. You’d think she’s one that needs to lead to win as there are stronger animals in the race, but with real pace drawn inside and the likes of My Hepburn coming across from out deep, where will Akii Princess land in the run to the first bend? She’s a litter sister to dual Group finalist Comet A Cost, is a consistent money earner (31 cheques in 43 starts) and deserves a crack at a big feature final. Getting a decent each way price and The Hound has her on top.
Perhaps the sentimental favourite after Greg Corless’ health scare earlier this year and she’s as honest as the day is long (23 wins and 35 placings in 88 starts). Has age and experience on her side after turning four on Wednesday, has sneaky good Box 4 stats and although she might not be able to go with them early, she’ll punch up in the run to the first turn and certainly put her feet in the furnace. The kennel have said it’s only a matter of time before she comes on season and is retired to the breeding barn and wouldn’t a Richmond Oaks title be a grand way to bow out. Dual G1 finalist but yet to claim a big race scalp.
Her Box 5 record is almost bullet proof but Jason Magri must still be filthy with the draw after Zipping Teresa copped the squeeze box in a field full of pacey customers. The daughter of Zipping Mitzy also drew poorly in January’s National Futurity final (Box 4) and will need some serious luck in running if she’s to claim her first feature final win. Her best of 29.55 would win the race but where will she land as they approach the first bend? If Coco Model misses it slightly, Zipping Teresa could slide over but she’d still be copping pressure from inside and out. Isn’t quicker than her brothers Megatron or Optimise but record suggest she’s more honest. Loves Richmond.
In The Sky | Jai Opetaia Best Richmond 520m Time: 29.70
Best Track & Distance 1st Split: 4.27
Box 6 History: 4: 1-2-0
Ladbrokes Price: $16
Flew the lids in her heat win and was superb to run a PB of 29.70...but was that a one off? A repeat would see her either lead or parked outside Hurricane Reign and if that occurred, she looks the stronger of the two. If she’s half a length slower though, she’s back in the ruck with a stack of quality chasers leaning all over her. She has a Group 1 placegetter and Group 1 winner drawn outside her with a combined 131 starts and her inexperience could play a role. She’s one of only two fifth grade bitches in the race, is the second youngest finalist and will be led out by the youngest trainer in the race in Jay Opetaia.
What’s happened to My Hepburn’s explosive box speed? She’s been below her best in her last two starts and she’s dwelt at box rise on both occasions. A 5.35 and 5.37 runner to the first mark during the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder series, she’s run 4.41 at Richmond and 4.46 at Gosford in her two starts since. If she can recapture her brilliant best and lead them at the first mark, she will probably win. If she doesn’t lead though, I can’t see her winning from Box 7. The record from wide draws is a factor (12 wins from Boxes 1-4 and 7 wins from Boxes 5-8) but she is a joint favourite and is one of the classier bitches going around at the moment.
My Hepburn is a kennelmate of Thunderbolt champion Vamoose and is trained at Branxton by Sue Smith and John Miles
I thought she liked wide draws but her record in the pink suggests otherwise. Did win the Group 1 Peter Mosman Opal from out wide but that was almost two years ago now. Muswellbrook Cup heat and final efforts were full of merit and I think she’s easily the strongest of the eight finalists. That was on full display last week when she landed in a perfect stalking spot up the back and overpowered Hurricane Reign and Akii Princess in the run home. If she can find a spot within a few lengths of the leaders going into the top turn, I think she can blouse them all late and she has big race experience in spades.
