Oregon’s Day has followed up some strong recent form in Sydney with a win in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Taking the lead at the 200m with Jim Byrne on board, Oregon’s Day was able to hold off her rivals for a one and a half length win over Tom Melbourne in second with Man Of His Word third.
Oregon’s Day ran to a new career peak Timeform figure of 112, two pounds above her run in the Queen Of The Turf in what was the biggest win of her career to this point.
The four-year-old is the first mare to win the race since Streama in 2014 who ran to a Timeform figure of 113 when getting the better of Mr O’Ceirin and Precedence.
Even with the mare's allowance, Oregon’s Day ran slightly below that of 2017 winner It’s Somewhat 118, but appears to have stamped herself as a strong middle distance contender going forward.
Connections indicated the daughter of Domesday will be aimed at the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) for her chance to claim Group 1 success with last years Doomben Cup winner Sense Of Occasion coming out of this race.
Tom Melbourne was terrific again in second, his last win now stretching back 23 starts and over two years with plenty of placings in between.
The Chris Waller-trained runner returned a Timeform figure of 113, the same he ran to in the All Aged Stakes last start.
One of the most impressive wins of the day came from Champagne Cuddles in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m), following four second placings last campaign all at Group 1 and Group 2 level.
Settling a fifth on the rails for much of the race with Whypeeo setting a fast tempo up front, Corey Brown was able to peel out at the right time and run on strongly in the straight, beating Whypeeo by one length with Marble third.
Champagne Cuddles broke the track record in the process, clocking a very slick 1.07.65 for the 1200m race, smashing the previous record by 0.30 seconds, set by El Cambio in the 2008 Guineas.
The Bjorn Baker-trained runner returned a Timeform figure of 109 and is the first filly to win the Guineas since Florentina in 2012 who ran to 104.
With the fillies allowance, Champagne Cuddles is the highest rated winner of the race since Chakvetadze won in 2009, returning a Timeform figure of 112.
With a career peak Timeform figure of 111, achieved when runner up to Alizee in the Group 1 Flight Stakes before a spell, Champagne Cuddles also finished runner up to the likes of Trapeze Artist in the Golden Rose and Formality in the Silver Shadow Stakes.
Whypeeo in second would have lost no admirers after leading throughout from a wide draw and ran to a Timeform figure of 110, the same as his win in the Listed Mick Dittman and Listed Cantina Gold at Doomben.
The final race of the day saw Anatola lead all the way to take out the Listed Silk Stocking as she looks to have a very promising Winter Carnival ahead.
Coming off a strong win when resuming at Randwick the start prior where she broke the track record, Anatola returned a new career peak Timeform figure of 106 in what was his sixth win from 18 starts, placing a further seven occasions.
With trainer Mark Newnham looking at a potential tilt at the Group 1 Tatts Tiara later in the winter, Anatola measures up pretty well to recent winners of the race and still appears to have more improvement to come.
Test The World who was second to Anatola the start prior was runner up once again, beaten just under two lengths.
