Desert Gold unveils Oaks hopes

A potential New Zealand Oaks favourite was unveiled when Nicoletta snatched victory at Trentham on Saturday.

Sporting the familiar Lib Petagna colours, the attractive dark brown Savabeel filly was too good for favourite and Oaks contender Devise in the Group III Desert Gold Stakes (1600m).

She was one of four from the Cambridge stable of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman in the race who gave Forsman a few logistical headaches prerace.

He was a busy man organising strappers and saddling procedures but was all smiles afterwards.

Besides the four stablemates, a field of quality 3-year-old fillies were out to enhance claims for the Group I New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 18.

Nicoletta certainly did that as she staved off a brave Devise with the winner’s stablemate Bonneval flashing home for third ahead of the widest runner Shared Secrets finishing powerfully into fourth.

Trained by Mark Oulaghan, Shared Secrets was the rank outsider but TAB bookmakers reacted sharply, slashing her Oaks price from $100 to $18.

A $90,000 Karaka yearling purchase, Nicoletta is another star filly selected by Bruce Perry for her Wellington owner.

Petagna has enjoyed notable success and Nicoletta could claim the New Zealand Oaks his filly Sofia Rosa lost to Fanatic in the inquiry room last March.

Forsman thinks she has what it takes and her jockey Michael Coleman agrees.

‘‘We’ve always thought she was an Oaks filly,’’ Forsman said. ‘‘And to do what she did today at a mile is encouraging cause I thought it would be too sharp for her.’’

Coleman said she lived up to his expectations with the win.

‘‘I said to Andrew I really liked her as an Oaks chance and it surprised me how sharp she was today,’’ he said. ‘‘She’s got a lot of quality and there’s a lot of upside with her.’’

Bookies agreed, winding her into $8 from $18 for the Oaks.

Her next run will likely be in the Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa.