Racing: Piccadilly Princess sets record in Oaks upset

Punters may not have got the Oaks winner they expected from the All Stars stable at Alexandra Park tonight but it was pretty hard to argue the winner didn't deserve it.

Hot favourite Golden Goddess was downed by stablemate Piccadilly Princess in the first group one of Cup week, the $125,000 Pascoes Northern Oaks.

And not only did the winner set a new national record for a three-year-old pacing filly over 2700m but she set much of it up.

Piccadilly Princess worked very hard to retain the lead off the gate as Bettor Think Quick pressured her and there was again mid race tempo, after which Golden Goddess rolled to the lead.

But while that would have suggested the race was the favourite's to lose, Piccadilly Princess came off her back and up the passing lane to grab the biggest win of her career, heading home another quinella for her all-conquering trainers.

It was a clear example of a filly closing a gap on her rivals as Golden Goddess had been far too strong for Piccadilly Princess at the December carnival.

It also continued a great last 12 months at Alexandra Park for driver Tim Williams, who has also won the Northern Derby and Auckland Cup in that time with Have Faith In Me.
The winner, another daughter of Bettors Delight, nearly doubled her stakes earning with her fifth win from 11 starts.

Earlier in the night another Bettors Delight offspring from the Purdon-Rasmussen stable set a national record while leading home a stable quinella, when More The Better took over two seconds off the 1700m mobile juvenile mark.

He showed gate speed, trailed and then came around Pacing Major in the straight to win, but the runner-up was every bit as good.

On a horror night for favourites where the first eight got beaten, Auckland Cup runner-up Hughie Green was also downed after a lovely tactical drive got No Doctor Needed home from in front in the $30,000 The Founders.

Thankfully, Shandale finally prevailed for favourite punters in race nine, on his way to next Friday's Northern Derby.

Derby favourite Lazarus, who has opened $1.55 for the classic, will have a crucial public workout at Cambridge on Saturday morning.