Oaks opportunity knocks
Leading jockey McNab keen to capitalise on G1 chance in Brisbane
New Zealand’s premier jockey Michael McNab can’t wait to grasp his opportunity in Group 1 company in Brisbane on Saturday. McNab will ride Cheval D’Or for Cambridge trainer Tony Pike in Saturday’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm, his first shot at an elite-level race in Australia — and he’s aiming to make the most of it.
Already with nine Group 1 wins in New Zealand and on track to win his second consecutive New Zealand jockeys’ premiership, McNab has won 14 races in Australia, chiefly through a brief stint based in Queensland in 2018.
However, Saturday’s Queensland Oaks will be his first ride in a Group 1 race on that side of the Tasman.
“I’m really excited about Saturday. It’s the opportunity to hunt another Group 1 win — and to ride a Group 1 winner in another country would be really special,” McNab said.
Racing in the colours of Dick Karreman’s The Oaks Stud, Almanzor filly Cheval D’Or sealed her trip to Brisbane with a clinical win in the Group 3 Championship Stakes (2100m) at Pukekohe in late April.
Although she won’t have raced for six weeks before the Oaks, Pike gave her an exhibition gallop at Te Rapa in mid-May, with McNab delighted with her hit-out.
“She worked well but it was on a really heavy track. She felt good and she was moving well, which was the main thing,” McNab said.
“She’s always shown good promise and it was nice to see her build to a good win last time off the back of a consistent season. By all accounts, she has travelled well.
“She was having a gallop [yesterday morning] with Michael Cahill riding her, so I’m looking forward to hearing how she goes. I’d like to think she can be really competitive but one
It has been another amazing season; my best season yet. I couldn’t have hoped for a better season, really. Michael McNab
thing that will help is a good draw.”
TAB bookmakers have Cheval D’Or as a $15 equal fifth favourite for the Queensland Oaks.
McNab has ridden 140 winners — four at Group 1 level — in New Zealand this season to set up a commanding 34-win lead over nearest rival Craig Grylls on the premiership table and has broken his own record for stakes earnings in a season.
He has also been booked to ride the Robbie Patterson-trained The Fearless One on the undercard.
“I’m looking forward to riding over there again. It will be a nice break from the cold and wet winter we’re having here,” he said.
“It has been another amazing season; my best season yet. I couldn’t have hoped for a better season, really. I just didn’t want to win the premiership once and that be it, so I’ve sacrificed a lot to be in this position.
“This was definitely the plan at the start of the season and it would mean a lot to get it done.”