Rock Dove up for challenge
A PLETHORA of interstate trainers have laid down the gauntlet to the powerful Godolphin stable in a quest to prevent Rock Dove from making a clean sweep of the summer carnival staying races for three-year-old fillies on Sunday.
Rock Dove gave Godolphin its second taste of success in the state when she scored an emphatic win in the $100,000 Listed Strutt Stakes over 2100m on Hobart Cup day.
Of the 11 final acceptors, seven are from interstate stables but five are maidens and the other two have only just removed their maiden status.
Rock Dove on the other hand has proven her worth by winning the Strutt Stakes and she has had two gallops on the Launceston track, the latest on Tuesday morning with her race rider Brendon McCoull in the saddle.
The Oaks has always delivered a good field of potential stayers and this year’s edition is no exception, especially in the local contingent.
The John Blacker-trained Glass Warrior impressed by winning a maiden in Devonport before blitzing her rivals in the Launceston Guineas at her first attempt over 2100m.
Blacker opted to run her in the Tasmanian Derby at her most recent outing for a game second to Cossetot from the Godolphin stable. With those two outings over the 2100m or beyond she goes into Sunday’s Listed classic as arguably the best of the locals.
But the Adam Trinder- trained Our Long Sali has strong claims given her eyecatching second to Rock Dove in the Strutt Stakes.
Our Long Sali was second to The Inevitable in the Tasmanian Guineas and that winner has franked the form by winning the Group 2 C.S. Hayes (1400m) at Flemington last Saturday.
Trinder’s filly then went on to finish second as the $1.12 favourite behind Shady Hustle when set an impossible task coming from last in a slowly run race over 1600m.
Her latest effort was full of merit when second to Rock Dove in the Strutt when drawn poorly in a wide gate. Despite the tough draw she ran on powerfully at the business end of the race.
The presence of fillies from to stables such as Lloyd Kennewell (Khanion Bay), Pat Carey (Naomi), Leon and Troy Corstens (Fast and Ready) and South Australia’s Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas (Grabbing Glory) give the race plenty of status and assures it will be a strong betting race. JOCKEY Jason Maskiell looks set to capture both of the Magic Millions Classics on Sunday because he has picked up the rides on likely favourite Deroche in the 2YO Classic and rising star Mandela Effect in the 3&4YO Classic.
Maskiell, who has relocated to Victoria and is reclaiming the confidence of interstate trainers after falling off the map through drug addiction, has been in top form of late. He also has picked up the ride aboard Glass Warrior in the Oaks and she is arguably the best chance of the local brigade.