James McDonald. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Big race wins are nothing new to Max Whitby but he will get extra satisfaction if Scarlett Lady lives up to her billing in the Queensland Oaks.
A director of the Australian Turf Club and a long-time racehorse owner, Whitby selected the daughter of Savabeel at the New Zealand yearling
sale and paid A$25,000 for the filly.
Savabeel's 2004 Cox Plate victory was a highlight for part-owner Whitby and he purposely sought out one of his progeny.
Like Savabeel, Scarlett Lady is prepared by transtasman trainer Graeme Rogerson and all but one of her nine race starts have been in New Zealand.
Her sparkling Australian debut win in the Doomben Roses elevated her to the top of the market for the Oaks at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
"I found her at Karaka and really liked her type," Whitby said.
"I was trying to buy a Savabeel. She was a cheap horse but she's come a long way and I'm proud of what she's done and the fact I picked her out.
"She has done a great job and I'm hoping she can win the Oaks and then do an Ethereal and win the Caulfield Cup."
Ethereal had a similar formline in 2001 when she came to Queensland from New Zealand to win the Roses and the Oaks.
Later that year, she took another giant leap to win the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
Scarlett Lady's dam On Call was a winner up to 2400m which gives Whitby confidence in his filly's ability over the distance.
"Her mother was strong so I don't think the trip will worry her," he said.
"And I think there's a sense of the Caulfield Cup about her."
Whitby was a shareholder in 2006 Queensland Oaks winner Allow who went on to run seventh in the Derby a week later.
The Derby remains an option for Scarlett Lady but Whitby said he would discuss that with Rogerson once the Oaks was over.
Scarlett Lady is at $3.50 with TAB Sportsbet for the Oaks and is the $6.50 Derby second favourite behind Shootoff, who is trained out of Rogerson's Sydney stable.
Leading New Zealand rider James McDonald will once again make the trip to ride Scarlett Lady and her stablemate Dowager Queen, also a daughter of Savabeel, who runs in the Sires' Produce Stakes.
- NZPA
