Competitive racing is assured during the five 520m heats that will decide the finalists for the $45,420 The Fitz Sports Bar New Zealand Oaks at the Addington Raceway on Thursday evening. The heats reflect an even spread of female classic age contenders as they commence their chase after Group 1 glory.
Pictured: Cosmic Odette winning last year’s New Zealand Oaks (pic Dave Robbie)
Here’s a look at the leading heat contenders, along with their respective TAB Futures quotes – win option 1973, Top 3 option 1974.
The Fitz Sports Bar New Zealand Oaks – heat 1, race 6
1 Goldstar Marvely $21 & $6: Her qualifying claims has been enhanced by drawing this trap as seen by her tidy record from the ace. She also owns a handy 30.17s best winning 520m time here
2 No Time Toulouse $21 & $6: This open class assessed chaser owns volumes of early pace. She also enjoys racing along the rail therefore her advancement claims cannot be lightly dismissed.
3 Ming Ming $61 & $16: She returned to racing on Tuesday afternoon when she snatched her last stride 30.96s C1 520m win. Obviously this line up represents a tougher test for her.
4 Viktoria Bitters $26 & $7: She has developed into a consistent chaser around this circuit as seen by her last start C3/4 520m fourth. She must push forward onto the early pace here.
5 Jealous Much $501 & $101: She’s known as a short course C2 graded sprinter who missed in her only 520m assignment which was when she was on race debut.
6 Amy Amy $21 & $6: She is returning to her former home track here after having delivered competitive northern races which saw her marching up the grades. She’s likely to finish strongly here.
7 Cawbourne Taber $81 & $18: She’s a visiting C2 graded chaser who is checking out this venue for the first time. It’s her first race from this trap, however her trap 6 and 8 form is sound.
8 Go Belle $81 & $18: She’s C1 graded chaser, who isn’t really noted having any early pace. That’s a concern for her in this line up.
The Fitz Sports Bar New Zealand Oaks heat 1 contenders includes (from left): Goldstar Marvely; No Time Toulouse; Amy Amy
The Fitz Sports Bar New Zealand Oaks – heat 2, race 7
1 Debbie Baxter $151 & $36: At least she has been allocated the right trap to have her first crack at a longer journey here. She must set up the initial pace here.
2 Cawbourne Taylor $26 & $7: She slipped down here to deliver a sound Monday trial after having impressively won a Hatrick C1 520m event in a handy 30.05s two races ago.
3 Opawa Tab $9 & $2.90: - She has been backed in from her opening $14 quote after she trialed around here in a stylish manner on Monday. That says treat her respect here.
4 Bigtime Eve $51 & $13: This track debuting visitor adds a fair amount of interest here as she does own a degree of early pace. The concern is that she has been cramping in some of her recent races.
5 Hilton Forabet $14 & $4.20: The open class C5 tag she has listed beside her name says she must be respected in this event. Her trainer has been turning out a number of winners lately.
6 Homebush Ellie $151 & $36: She owns early pace which she displayed when leading throughout for her last start 295m 17.52s win. She must use that asset here.
7 Smash Damage $126 & $31: She very nearly nailed her first 520m win in her last outing here when she was run down late. Her poor wide trap form is a concern here.
8 Raylene $151 & $36: She is another contender here who is giving away a slice of class to her rivals being a C1 graded chaser. She must improve on her best 31.01s 520m winning time.
The Fitz Sports Bar New Zealand Oaks heat 2 contenders includes (from left): Opawa Tab; Bigtime Eve; Homebush Ellie
The Fitz Sports Bar New Zealand Oaks – heat 3, race 8
1 Me Jane $7.50 & $2.60: She’s a Group 2 Cambridge 457m winner who has drawn ideally for her racing style here. That all adds up to her holding sound looking advancement claims.
2 Dream Kay $21 & $6: She has taken on a number of feature 520m fields around this circuit before, even though she’s a C2 assessed chaser. Included was her bold Ladies Bracelet second two races ago.
3 Replica Casino $201 & $51: Her longer odds quote is a reflection on her current C1 grading. She must nudge a few tenths of her 30.81s best winning 520m time.
4 Homebush Hazel $301 & $61: She’s another who is better known as a short course sprinter with her three previous 520m outings resulting in two misses and a fall.
5 Jinja Stringer $61 & $16: She is giving class and a fair amount of race experience to her rivals in this line up. She led a C1 457m field on the turn, then was run down in her last outing.
6 Queen Kong $61 & $16: She does own a set of open class racing stripes. However those were earned over the sprint distances. This is her first look at 520m racing here.
7 Bigtime Lily $14 & $4.20: She’s a visiting C3 graded chaser who is bringing tidy looking wide trap form south with her. She has displayed early pace over the 520m and 457m distances.
8 Martha Magic $10 & $3.20: Her local racing knowledge around this venue is likely to assist her. She was a bold last start 30.42s C2/3 520m winner here and she has won from this trap before.
The Fitz Sports Bar New Zealand Oaks heat 3 contenders includes (from left): Me Jane; Dream Kay
The Fitz Sports Bar New Zealand Oaks – heat 4, race 9
1 Invincible Sue $7.50 & $2.60: She was tangled up in early traffic when caught up in jostling during her Dunedin Cup assignment on Tuesday. Her improved draw has enhanced her qualifying claims.
2 Goldstar Liberty $126 & $31: She settled just in behind the pace-setters and she remained there in her C1 520m Tuesday outing. This field represents a decent rise in class for her.
3 Zara Zoe $201 & $51: Her sole 520m win here came she cleared the Maiden ranks, clocking 30.69s. She hasn’t featured since she stepped up into the C1 chasing ranks.
4 Cawbourne Krusty $10 & $3.20: She has made an exciting start to her racing career as seen by her 520m and 457m wins. Included was her smart Hatrick 30.12s 520m clock. She trialed around Addington in okay style on Monday.
5 Bigtime Tears $14 & $4.20: She has rapidly advanced through the grades via her Manawatu 457 and Hatrick 520m wins. She must use her known early pace from trap rise here.
6 Dave’s Dot $31 & $8: She downgraded back to C2 when she was held in the midfield pack throughout in her last 520m outing here. She does own a handy 30.24s best winning 520m time here.
7 Oh So Nitro $6 & $2.20: She cemented her NZ Oaks favoritism via her searing 29.98s last start Maiden 520m win last week. She had also won from this trap in her prior CO 520m race.
8 Mitcham Faye $151 & $36: She has been circulating over the shorter sprint trips after having missed over 520m and 545m at the commencement of her racing career.
The Fitz Sports Bar New Zealand Oaks – heat 5, race 10
1 Andrea’s Magic $14 & $4.20: She has recently attained C3 status which was the grade she contested when she peaked late on her gallop in her last 520m race. She won her only race from this trap.
2 Sheza Rippa $14 & $4.20: This girl adds intrigue to this heat. There is no denying her sheer pace – can she run out a strong 520m is the query after placing in her only 520m attempt? She trialed over 295m in a sharp 16.97s last week.
3 Go Angel $81 & $18: She hasn’t been able to feature since she stepped up to 520m C2 racing. Making some rather moderate races starts hasn’t aided her claims.
4 Opawa Abbie Joy $21 & $6: She was last sighted racing back in December when going over 520m after her prior 645m attempt (third). A bold fresh up effort wouldn’t surprise.
5 Box Vacant
6 Magic Tracey $201 & $51: She has also been short course sprinting, with the concern for her here being her four misses over this 520m trip.
7 Bigtime Mia $26 & $7: She has been taking on strong recent Manawatu 457 and Hatrick 520m opposition. She owns very strong wide trap stats.
8 Macey Baxter $201 & $51: Her 29 career races has all been over the short course sprints. She picks on a tough series to step up to 520m racing here.
The Fitz Sports Bar New Zealand Oaks heat 5 contenders includes Sheza Rippa
By Peter Fenemor
