Racing: Southern fillies grab attention

By MIKE DILLON

Punters are staggered southern fillies Eternal Melody and Justine Coup are at such short odds in Saturday's group one New Zealand Bloodstock Oaks at Trentham.

Not trainer Peter Williams.

He believes his filly Justine Coup is in the same class as the likes of Kainui Belle and Buckle My Shoe.

And that's a big call.

Buckle My Shoe won the Royal Stakes on the final day of the Auckland Cup carnival and Kainui Belle has won the Wellington Guineas, finished second to Taatletail in the 1000 Guineas, third to King's Chapel in the 2000 Guineas then took the Eulogy Stakes at Manawatu before winning the $100,000 Eight Carat Classic on the opening day of the Ellerslie carnival.

Justine Coup has yet to take on anything like the same class.

But, she has done something none of her opposition on Saturday have achieved - she has already won at the 2400m distance.

Justine Coup won a 2400m event at Trentham, confirming co-trainer Williams' long-held opinion that the filly is a dead-set stayer.

He has always said the further she goes the better she will get and rates her a real winning chance in her biggest assignment yet.

"She's the best chance our stable has had of lifting the Oaks and we had San Goma finish third a few years ago.

"This filly is by far a better chance than San Goma was.

"She has been set for the Oaks all the way through and I think she's right up there with those good northern fillies."

Justine Coup, by Entrepreneur, was bred and is owned by Sir Patrick Hogan and raced on lease by Ray Coupland from the Williams' southern stable.

The filly was ridden by northern jockey Noel Harris in the 2400m Trentham victory, but with Harris required for one of the main rivals, Kainui Belle, Justine Coup will be ridden by Jason Laking.

Laking will earn his riding fee - Justine Coup has drawn barrier No 18.

"That's not nice," said Williams. "She will almost certainly have to drop back early.

"There is not much point in trying to attack the leaders early in a race like this over 2400m. We'll have to try and get in somewhere near the back."

Kainui Belle was yesterday $4.75 Oaks favourite with the New Zealand TAB, with Eternal Melody second favourite at $6 and Justine Coup at $8, alongside Midnight Kiss.

Buckle My Shoe, who won the $120,000 Royal Stakes at Ellerslie and survived an inquiry lodged by Wayne Hillis, trainer of Kainui Belle, is fifth favourite at $11.

She is the emerging horse for Bidgette O'Sullivan, the wife of former champion jockey Lance O'Sullivan.

The horse punters seem to be letting slip is the underrated Eftee One, who caused the initial interference that saw Buckle My Shoe slide sideways and dictate the racing line of Kainui Belle late in the Royal Stakes.

Her overall form is solid and at $25 yesterday she looks the Oaks value bet.

Eternal Melody is regarded as a filly who needs to be held up for one late run at the leaders.

If that is completely accurate, she could be left vulnerable in a group one race.

Horses need to make their own luck in these races, especially when things do not go according to plan A, or plan B. And, the Oaks at Trentham is a grinding race.

Just about every runner - Justine Coup is an exception this year - is running over 2400m for the first time and in most years the majority of the fillies are doing their best before the home turn. Sit-and-sprint horses are often disadvantaged.

* Today's barrier draw saw a quick reshuffle of the TAB's odds for the $100,000 Telegraph Handicap on Saturday.

Speedster Diamond Like slid to $10 when she landed barrier No 13 and there was enough money invested to keep Pay My Bail short at $4.75 when she plucked the perfect No 2 gate. Pay My Bail was narrowly beaten by Vinaka in the group one Railway Stakes at Ellerslie and has maintained her magnificent form through a series of impressive and tough races.

She fought Vinaka every metre of the Railway and looks the obvious horse to beat again.

Trainer Tony Cole never likes to see the long-striding Travellin' Man draw inside the first half of the field to allow him plenty of galloping room and so is disappointed to be coming out of gate No 1, in what will be a dash throughout.