Racing: Big money rides on Danex in Oaks

Danex scores an impressive maiden win at Thames and tightens to an $8 Oaks chance.

El Bulli and Belle Of Marju loom as threats after their weekend performances.

Co-owner Paul Moroney isn't the only one sweating over whether Danex will squeeze in to the New Zealand Oaks field Saturday week.

A friend, who Moroney prefers not to name, will collect $144,000 from TAB bookies if Danex wins at Trentham - the climax to a $30 multi-bet on Michael Moroney-Andrew Scott trained runners.

Clean Sweep kicked off the treble with her 2000 Guineas win at $15, followed by Xcellent's New Zealand Derby victory at $16.

The anonymous punter now has $7200 riding on a $20 November quote for Danex, who tightened to an $8 Oaks chance after her narrow but impressive maiden win at Thames on Saturday.

"I wish I could say it was me," said Moroney. "We can only hope now that she gains a start.

"There's a lot of two-win fillies around and a few others coming out of the woodwork for this race."

Moroney always felt Danex would have no trouble with the 2400m at Trentham - her 2000m win at Thames quashed any remaining doubt.

"Andrew [Calder, rider] didn't go all out with her. He had to make a couple of runs on her to put her in contention.

"But it showed me that she would be strong at the end of 2400m.

"We had French Lady run fourth in the Oaks last year and I would rate Danex at least her equal, if not better."

Apart from El Bulli, who showed plenty of staying qualities to outkick Uhuru, no other Oaks filly emerged at Woodville on Saturday, the race in which Danex was stuck on the ballot.

Of all the weekend runners, only another Thames winner, the Lance O'Sullivan-trained Belle Of Marju, looks a serious Trentham threat to Danex.

"The Oaks is more often than not won by the filly who can stay the best, rather than the most talented," said Moroney.

"We are one of those with talent but more importantly we know we will get the 2400m."

The way Belle Of Marju fought back to beat Punt Higher after being headed in the straight convinced O'Sullivan she had earned an Oaks trip.

"We always thought staying was her go and the way she won she deserves to take her place in the field," said OSullivan.

"I know she was well and truly beaten in the Eulogy but she is on the way up."

Meanwhile, Moroney is also hoping Danex's stablemate Clean Sweep did enough at Thames to earn a Trentham start Saturday week.

Initially disappointed with Clean Sweep's third to Justee in the Haagen Lager sprint, Moroney now feels it was a better Telegraph trial than it first looked.

"She paraded in outstanding order, but in retrospect she may have looked a little too good," said Moroney. "We had her ready to win the Railway and when she didn't get in, we hadn't done a hell of a lot with her in between.

"Her blood report on Wednesday had suggested she had got away on us a bit, and it doesn't take much."

Clean Sweep was to have run at Woodville but the race was called off.