Australian Oaks on the cards for star filly Habibi
NEW ZEALAND DERBY winner Habibi is heading to the Sydney autumn carnival.
The Northland filly will be aimed at the A$550,000 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 20 and will have a leadup run in the A$400,000 Vinery Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill a fortnight earlier.
Victory in both races would boost her earnings by NZ$700,000.
Her connections have decided on a Sydney campaign in preference to a tilt at the $300,000 New Zealand Oaks at Trentham this weekend.
The travelling time to Trentham, from Habibi’s Ruakaka base, was a major factor in the decision.
“It’s a 12-hour trip each way and it would be less of a trip to get her to Sydney,” co-trainer Donna Logan said.
“She’s won the blue riband event [NZ Derby] and doesn’t need to go to Trentham to prove herself and we think she deserves a crack in Sydney.
“Though we know we will be meeting [top Australian filly] Dear Demi on her home turf and on her way up.”
It has proved difficult in recent years for three-year-olds to back up from the New Zealand Derby and peak again in Sydney, but Logan feels she has a chance with Habibi.
“She’s not your average horse when it comes to her constitution and I think she’s one who could cope. If she wasn’t so tough, we wouldn’t even contemplate Syd- ney and would wait for Brisbane. We weighed her on the Monday after the Derby and she had lost only 2kg from the trip to Ellerslie and the race. That’s unheard of.
“Normally they would lose 10kg just with the float trip and add a hard race like the Derby and the loss could be around 15-20kg.
“She’s come through the race really well. Her owners saw her at the track this morning and were amazed at how bright and bouncy she was.
“I think she would love Randwick but if she didn’t measure up in the Vinery, we would be prepared to put her on the plane and come home [without going to the Oaks].”
Regular rider Vinnie Colgan will be offered the mount in Sydney.
Habibi will be accompanied to Sydney by stablemate Durham Town who is being aimed at the A$350,000 Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 30.
Durham Town was to have been transferred to Sydney trainer Chris Waller but will stay with the Logan stable over the Sydney carnival.