Racing: Luvaluva the dark horse in Oaks

Kerrin McEvoy steers Luvaluva to victory in the Adrian Knox Stakes at Randwick last Saturday. Photo / AAP

Much is being said about the New Zealand-trained quartet Savvy Coup, Contessa Vanessa, Danzdandance and She's A Treasure in tomorrow's A$1m Australian Oaks at Randwick.

But it could be a different Kiwi connection that takes away the major prize.

Luvaluva is by a New Zealand-based stallion Mastercraftsman and trained by Sydney-based New Zealander John Sargent.

Last Saturday in the aftermath of such exciting racing as Happy Clapper winning the Doncaster and a number of other Group races, what Luvaluva achieved late in the day in winning the Adrian Knox Stakes went largely unheralded.

Her Oaks lead-up race was meant to have been the week previous, but a dodgy blood count meant Sargent had to pull her out. Given that her ability to shoulder 60kg when the rest of the field had just 53kg, was truly stunning. It was a weight-carrying record for the race.

Even more remarkable, one of the best in the business, Kerrin McEvoy, took off around the field four wide from the 500m. Even though it was McEvoy, at that moment you had to say: "Really?" Most other jockeys would have walked away in disgust.

It might have looked ugly, but McEvoy knew what he was doing and after a home-straight dogfight as tough as you'd ever see, Luvaluva got the dollars by a head.

"I said to Kerrin later: 'You took off a bit soon didn't you?'" said Sargent. "He said he was worried about the weight and felt he had to get her into the race."

That's either sheer genius or jockey excuse No 47. As a dual Melbourne Cup-winning jockey, McEvoy gets the benefit of the doubt and we'll go for the former.

Such a desperately tough race would have flattened most fillies that hadn't raced for three weeks, but Sargent says Luvaluva has come through it brilliantly — toughness that will stand by her tomorrow.

"She's been to the beach and loved it and this morning she did a nice piece of threequarter work. She's really thriving. I'm delighted we've got Kerrin, he's had two rides on her now for two wins. He's the best staying rider in the business."

Along with almost all betting agencies Sargent rates Unforgiven ($4) and Hiyaam ($4.60) as the pair to beat. Luvaluva is the third favourite at $5.50 ahead of Aloisia on $6.50 and Savvy Coup at $7. Danzdanzdance is rated at $16, Contessa Vanessa $17 and She's A Treasure $31.

Ruakaka trainer Chris Gibbs will have his attention divided tomorrow. He has no runner at the closest meeting at Te Rapa, but has Richie McHorse and Comin'through in the $75,000 Royston Hospital Hawke's Bay Cup and Danzdanzdance in the Australian Oaks.

"Michael Walker was confident she would improve with her run in the Vinery Stakes and that's to be understood in her first run since the Derby at Ellerslie."

The New Zealand trio have drawn barriers 2, 3, 4 and 5, so there will be few excuses there. Luvaluva will come out of the extreme outside No 13 gate. "She'll be going back this time and looking for luck late in the race," says Sargent.

The sheer excitement of Winx is jammed between the Oaks and the A$2m Sydney Cup, in which Matamata's Sir Charles Road will attempt to back up on his fine Chairman's victory from last Saturday. He drops to a luxury 50kg this time, but the opposition is much tougher. Even allowing for that he had the Chairman's won a long way out and has obviously settled into Sydney very well on his first trip away.