Two New Zealand-breds that look certain to play a major part in next Thursday’s $1,00,000 Group 1 Kennedy (Victoria) Oaks fought out the finish of Saturday’s $300,000 Group II G.H. Mumm Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington and were promptly made equal favourites for the Classic.
The Reliable Man (GB) filly Miami Bound earned her first stakes win, while crediting Damien Oliver with a record of 73 carnival wins, when she fought off the challenge of the lightly raced Shocking filly Vegas Jewel by a neck.
It was a further six lengths back to the Sebring filly Palumbo who came off a maiden win at Pakenham to claim third at the expense of the Group 1 Thousand Guineas winner Flit.
Made a Breednet One To Watch when she broke her maiden at Bendigo back in August, Miami Bound finished third behind Moonlight Maid in the Group II Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington on October 5 and came in to the Wakeful off the back of a fourth behind Victoria Derby hopeful Thought Of That in the Group III Caulfield Classic.
Damien Oliver was elated at his personal milestone.
“It’s a huge thrill, not something I really thought of before the race, but yeah, it’s fantastic. A lot of history at this place and it’s pretty unreal to think that you’ve been the most successful person here over 150 years” Oliver said.
Winning trainer Danny O’Brien said his filly has genuine excuses for being beaten at her past two starts.
“We’ve had this in mind for 12 months to go Wakeful – Oaks and everything has gone to plan and we’ve got the first one out of the race today and hopefully she can come back on Thursday and be right in the finish of the Oaks,” O’Brien said.
“She’s started favourite at her last two and had reasons when beaten. The nice even gallop and strong staying test suited her, so she’s had a perfect preparation for the 2500 metres next Thursday.”
Purchased by O'Brien Thoroughbreds out of the Westbury Stud draft for $120,000 out of book 1 at Karaka in 2018, Miami Bound advances her record to three wins and two from six starts with earnings of $282,750
The daughter of the French Derby and ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Reliable Man has a real Oaks pedigree being a daughter of the 2007 VRC Oaks heroine Arapaho Miss (Danehill Dancer) who has five of six named foals to race with five winners, which include the $713,000 earner De Little Engine (Encosta De Lago) who won the Listed VRC Andrew Ramsden Stakes over 3200 metres.
Miami Bound becomes the ninth stakes-winner for Westbury Stud’s Reliable Man (GB) who already has an Oaks winner in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks heroine Sentimental Miss.
