Racing: Kiwis top Oaks hopes

Three New Zealand reinsmen could be each other's toughest rivals and greatest allies at the same time in Sydney tonight.

The trio - Brent Mangos (Molly Darling), Ken Barron (Miss Bubbles) and Anthony Butt (Foreal) - clash in the New South Wales Oaks at Harold Park and all are winning chances.

But the race is anything but a Kiwi benefit as there are a few class acts emerging in the Australian filly crop. Whether the New Zealanders can overcome them will depend a lot on how much they inadvertently help each other.

The draws for the race have increased pressure on Barron and Butt as their fillies have drawn the second line, meaning one of them will have to move in the middle stages and almost certainly cart the other into the race.

"We are both in the same position," said Ken Barron.

"I think both my filly and Foreal need the pace on to win so we will have to get handy at some stage and I am sure neither of us want to let the other get too far ahead.

"I'd love to move around the field and have Foreal follow me and give me the one-one while putting the pressure on the leaders, but I am sure Anthony is thinking he'd like the reverse to happen.

"One thing is for sure, they won't be going slow for too long."

If Miss Bubbles and Foreal do have to make mid-race moves then Molly Darling could be perfectly placed to take advantage.

The high-class Pukekohe filly resumed with an easy win in her prelude last Friday and is drawn to remain handy without having to work too much.

That will raise some interesting tactical dilemma for Mangos though because if his fellow Kiwi drivers start to improve he will have to choose to let them go and get shuffled back on what is a front runner's track or stay handy and join then in the heat of battle.

Of the trio Molly Darling may have the most raw speed but Foreal has the record this season, having won the fillies' triple crown at Alexandra Park in December.

She disappointed when third to Miss Bubbles at Harold Park two weeks ago, galloping in the score-up and pacing roughly. She was better but still not perfect in her prelude last Friday when the hot pace enabled Butt to drive her quietly before swooping into the race.

"She is still not quite as good as she was before Christmas," admitted Butt. "Because we have trained and raced her right-handed for most of this season she is taking a while to get her head around racing left-handed and Harold Park is hardly the track to be learning that on.

"I still believe she is the best filly in the field but because she might be just below her best she is vulnerable."

Best of the Australians should be Triliner, who led throughout to beat Miss Bubbles in their prelude.

She is drawn to lead again but she will need to be very good to hold on because of the increased likelihood of mid-race pressure.

The only good news about the confusing form puzzle is that horses like Foreal and Molly Darling who usually pay far less than $2 to win should provide punters with far more tempting odds tonight.