Racing: Oaks thrill for Aucklanders

An Auckland syndicate had images of their second Queensland Oaks in as many years when Walk In The Park defied her huge odds to run third at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The Andrew Scott-trained filly, who started at $51 with bookmakers, loomed up to eventual winner Purple at the top of the straight before weakening to third behind the Anthony Cummings-trained Nothin' Leica Cat.

She was the best finisher of the six New Zealand-trained raiders, paying $15.80 for a place on the Queensland tote and earning her owners A$40,000 ($50,994) and an invaluable group one placing in the 2400m fillies' classic.

Owners Barry and Deidre Neville-White, Kevin Algie, Vern Curtis and Greg Peebles won the Oaks in 2007 with the Mike Moroney-trained Eskimo Queen.

Expatriate New Zealand jockey Larry Cassidy said the Thorn Park filly would have finished much closer than 2 lengths behind Purple but for drawing the outside barrier in the 19-horse field.

"I actually jumped with the idea of going forward and maybe even leading, but they went so hard down the straight the first time I had to go back," said Cassidy.

"When they were going so slow I pulled out at the 1000m and nothing went forward with me so I had to keep rolling. It was a good effort."

Walk In The Park finished ninth in the group three Doomben Classic then had her final leadup with a second placing in a class three 2150m at the Sunshine Coast after being balloted out of the Doomben Roses. Scott had pronounced himself "hopeful, rather than confident", pre-race.

Purple, a mudlark by Commands out of Zabeel mare Lady Viola, shortened from $5.50 to $4.40 and won accordingly on the slow track.

Ekstreme, Taranaki trainer Bryce Revell's first Australian runner, finished a luckless sixth after being the early favourite. She raced fiercely for rider Opie Bosson early on then suffered a bad check at the 800m before running on once in the clear.

"We found a bit of trouble and the winner had the good run, but I don't think too many would have beaten Purple," said Revell.

"I thought my filly would get home a bit better than that but we can't be disappointed, we've run sixth in a group one and she's done plenty for us this year."

Of the other Kiwis, Awesome Planet ran on for fifth, Prix Du Sang was seventh, Can't Keeper Down, three-wide throughout, finished eighth and Juice was second-last.

In the group two weight-for-age O'Shea Stakes (2200m), Mirkola Lass stormed home at odds of $41 to run second to Scenic Shot, while Sir Slick faded to sixth.

The Lance Noble-trained 3-year-old Geeza put in a huge run for second in the listed Queensland Plate (1400m), crossing from barrier 17 to lead before being pipped by a short head by mudlark Youthful Jack.

- NZPA