Sacred finds his race rhythm for Pike

A START in the Group I New Zealand Oaks is not a definite despite Sacred Rhythm’s impressive winning performance at New Plymouth yesterday.

The Tony Pike-trained daughter of Pentire franked her last performance when she finished 12th of 13 runners in a special conditions 1400m race at Ellerslie, although there was a definite reason behind it.

‘‘Her saddle slipped,’’ stable rep Nicole Brown said. ‘‘It just slipped when she jumped out and Leith [Innes] could not ride her out properly.’’

With the saddle secured and Vinnie Colgan on board, Sacred Rhythm showed definite staying potential to win the listed Bob Sharrock Memorial Oaks Prelude over 1800m at Pukekura.

Brown said it was likely they would see how she came through the race before deciding if they would push on for a shot at the Oaks at Trentham.

‘‘She’s still very green in her races so I’m not sure if he wants to go there. She balanced up in the straight nicely today, though, so that was really good.’’

Favourite Storytime made it a decent staying race when jockey Rosie Myers took off at the 650m mark and she kicked clear near the top of the straight before fading on her run as she was passed by Date Night for Graeme and Debbie Rogerson who finished second, three-quarters of a length away from the winner.

While a number of northern jockeys rightly opted to stay at Ellerslie for the Avondale Cup and Guineas, Colgan headed south and might just stay with Sacred Rhythm if the stable push ahead towards the $300,000 staying feature for fillies.

Brown had little doubt Sacred Rhythm would handle the 2400m trip.

‘‘She’s a real quality staying mare in the makings, so that’s exciting.’’

Meanwhile, veteran New Plymouth trainer John Wheeler brought up win No 999 in New Zealand after he produced outsider Irish Flame to win the Group III Phoenix Park 2YO Classic at Pukekura yesterday.

Punters did not share Wheeler’s optimism as they sent Irish Flame out at $16 and they would hardly have felt nervous after the son of Zed reared at the start and missed the kick before getting to the back of the field.

Jockey Dylan Turner, who admitted he was doing it tough after wasting to 53kg, took Irish Flame to the lead shortly after the turn and he ran away from his rivals to win by four lengths.