The Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks beckons for the lightly raced Epaulette filly Paradee after a courageous win in Friday night’s Group III Dynamic Print Alexandra Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
Caught three-wide the trip under Damien Oliver, Paradee was among the first to come off the bit but she rallied in the straight to defeat the Choisir filly Snapdancer by a length with the Manhattan Rain filly Flandersrain a half-length back in third.
It took the Danny O’Brien-trained Paradee three starts to break her maiden at Bendigo on February 5 before she charged home for a luckless third over 1400m at Sandown-Hillside a fortnight later.
She prepped for the Alexandra Stakes with a two-length win over 1600 metres at Flemington on March 4.
Stable representative Ben Gleeson
“Ollie didn’t panic when he was caught three wide and obviously she was super tough,” Gleeson said.
“That was a pretty impressive win. She keeps stepping up to the mark so the skies the limit.
“We had in mind that if she ran well tonight we would take her to Sydney. We think she will appreciate 2000m and if she delivers there, hopefully, an Oaks beckons.
Oliver, who was winning the race for the sixth time, is not so sure about the Oaks.
“Danny and I identified the Adrian Knox as a suitable race for her. She is a little more brilliant so I’m not too sure about more than 2000m,” Oliver said. 
Bred by Bert Vieira, Paradee was purchased by her owner Ron Anderson for $240,000 out of the Bowness Stud draft at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the first live foal of the unraced Medaglia d’Oro (USA) mare Icy Heels who is a half-sister to Listed Breeders’ Plate winner Law.
Vieira had purchased Icy Heels for $130,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Icy Heels has a yearling filly by Winning Rupert and a colt foal by Pride Of Dubai.
She was one of 180 mares to visit Bert Vieira’s 4-time Group 1 winning Snitzel stallion Trapeze Artist at Widden Stud last spring.
Paradee becomes the 13th stakes-winner for Darley Stud’s Epaulette who covered 138 mares last spring at a fee of $27,500.
