There was a big shake-up in the betting for the Kennedy Oaks following the dominant performance of the Sebring filly Daisies and the sub-par performance of Kapalua Sunset in Saturday’s Group III Schweppes Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.
Given a positive ride by Damian Lane, Daises took up a forward position after looking likely to caught wide when the pace slackened.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained daughter of Sebring put to bed any doubts concerning her staying ability when drawing clear to defeat the Deep Impact filly Glint Of Hope by one and three-quarter lengths with another daughter of Sebring, Biscayne Bay, a further one and a quarter lengths back in third.
It was the first win at starts four for Daisies who had impressed when sixth behind Elusive Express in the Group II Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington.
Price said that Daisies will likely not start again before the Oaks.
“I say it all the time, in Melbourne they want to lead, stack up and 13, 13, 13 (second furlongs) and all it does is create muddling crap run races,” Price said.
“He (Lane) was smart enough to see how stupidly slow they were going and seize the race. Albeit that he was deep early, I thought it was a big tick for D Lane.
“She is a beautiful big staying filly. I think there is a bit of Zabeel in there and a mix of pedigree, but she is a beautifully big, clean-winded staying filly and I think she’ll go into the Oaks from here.
“We always wanted to go to 2000 metres which is why we didn’t run her in the Thousand Guineas.
“I didn’t want to be out the back running home with a promising run all the time. I suppose into the Oaks from here.”
Lane said it was a brave effort.
“I just waited until we got to the top of the hill and the tempo really came out of it. Going downhill I just let her stride,” Lane said.
“To her credit when we really stepped it up 600m from home, 400m from home again, not often a three-year-old filly can do that.
“Tough effort.”
A $250,000 purchase by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Widden Stud drat at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Daisies is a sister to Motown Lil, a 4-time winner and stakes-placed.
Her dam Tigress Lily, a talented daughter of Snitzel, is out of the Zabeel mare Empress Lily who placed in the VRC Oaks, VRC Edward Manifold Stakes and Kewney Stakes.
A half-sister to Group 1 SAJC Schweppes Oaks runner-up Estee, Tigress Lily is a daughter of Tycoon Lil (Last Tycoon), the Horse of the Year & Champion 3YO in NZ in 1997-98, whose eight wins included the Group 1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas, Group 1 STC Canterbury Guineas, and Group 1 New Zealand Oaks.
John O'Shea Racing purchased a Zoustar filly out of Tigress Lily for $200,000 from the Widden Stud draft at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
After missing to Capitalist in 2019, Tigress Lily foaled a Pierata filly on October 1.
Daisies becomes the 72nd stakes-winner by Widden Stud’s sadly missed Sebring.
