A decision to visit Sydney paid off for connections of Melbourne filly Absolutely who broke her maiden status in devastating style when she beat Derby winner Shamrocker in the AJC Australian Oaks.
Trainer Mick Kent also entered Absolutely in a restricted fillies and mares' race at Flemington on Saturday but
decided to take the punt on the group one at Randwick which was run on heavy (10) track. "I'm glad we came now," Kent said on Saturday.
"It looked like a tough Oaks but you don't get too many chances.
"I did have some trepidation about the wet track but I walked it and I don't think it's a heavy 10, or it wouldn't be at home. Brad Rawiller rode her well and took advantage of the fence."
Shamrocker was sent out the $3.50 favourite and although she tried hard, she found it hard going in the final stages of the 2400m marathon.
"She ran super," trainer Danny O'Brien said.
"Who knows with the wet track, but she certainly tried her hardest and the winner was just too strong.
"She outstayed them all but the winner and full credit to her. She pinched a gap and came up the fence and we couldn't pick her up."
The favourite's jockey Glen Boss said her class got her as far as it did in the wet. "She gave me a winning ride but she just didn't handle the conditions.
"I still thought she was going to get there but it was going to be a slog and the winner swam."
There was 3 lengths between the two, with Pinker Pinker a half-length back third.
Absolutely is raced by Rick Jamieson, who has become famous in his own right in recent times as the breeder and seller of champion mare Black Caviar.
Jamieson wasn't at Randwick but Kent said he was watching the race.
"He doesn't really like the limelight but I'm thrilled to get a group one for him," he said.
Rawiller said he always felt the filly was handling the soggy surface.
"I was pretty confident, at the 600m she was handling the bad part," he said. "It was the game plan to stay on the fence and it worked out."
Although she was a maiden before the race, Absolutely had recorded four placings in stakes races including a second to Lights Of Heaven in the group one Australasian Oaks (2008m) at Morphettville last month.
- AAP
