The progressive 3-year-old Kermadec filly Scarlet Oak continued her meteoric rise when winning Saturday’s Group II ANZ Bloodstock News The Roses (2000m) at Doomben.
Given an inspired ride by James Mcdonald, the Chris Waller-trained filly held her rallying stablemate Mare Of Mt Buller (Dundeel) by a short-neck with Miss Joelene (Russian Revolution) a long-neck back in third.
Scarlet Hope made a winning debut in New Zealand on March 13. Sold to continue her career in Australia, the daughter of Kermadec finished second in the Group III JB Carr Stakes on a heavy track at Randwick before a two-and-a-half length romp over 1600m at Newcastle three weeks later.
Chris Waller said it’s likely she will press on to the Group 1 Queensland Oaks.
“That’s the beauty of Australian racing. You’ve got it 52 weeks of the year and you can take advantage of it with a late developer and a rising star,”he said
“I was eyeing her off on the TV, watching her win in New Zealand. Ozzie Kheir purchased her out of New Zealand from Ken Kelso, who is a trainer I respect and I spoke to him.
“He said she is the real deal but needs a bit of furnishing. The best is yet to come.
“She is taking it all in her stride and that is the only reason she is still up here because she does need time. She’s eating everything and enjoying it. No signs of stress and we’ll push on in two weeks.”
James McDonald expressed some concern that Scarlet Hope is a stayer.
“I think she’ll come back faster next prep. She feels like a miler to me, but she is extremely talented, and her talent is really going to have to shine through in two weeks,” McDonald revealed.
“It was a little bit hairy at the top of the straight. I was squeezed for room. She’s got an extremely good acceleration to her and I actually genuinely believe that if she got a dry track then she’s going to excel.”
Raced in New Zealand by the Smithies family’s Monovale Holdings, Scarlet Oak was catalogued as the opening lot of the 2020 Kraka Yearling Sale, but was withdrawn.
She is the best of five winners from as many to race for the Melbourne winning Commands mare Tactless, a half-sister to Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes winner Complacent and Listed Dulcify Stakes winner Ataraxia.
Tactless has a yearling colt by Contributer (IRE) and a weanling colt by Tarzino. She was covered by Profondo (Deep Impact) last spring.
Scarlet Oak is the eighth stakes-winner for Darlet Stud’s Kermadec who stands for $16,500 at Darley Stud this spring.
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