Scratchy Lass wins 2016 Ubet Oakbank Stakes Listed $100,000 at Oakbank (SA), 1100m.
Scratchy Lass, barrier eight, was slow to find her feet and settled equal last three off the fence. Four wide on the bend she was kept going and got round the tight last corner out in the middle of the track. Despite giving the leaders five or six lengths she had clear running. Into the straight she balanced and started to eat into the lead, still needing four lengths at the 200m. Second a hundred out, winning seemed unlikely but in her last three strides she flew at the leader and just put her nose out on the line for a thrilling win.
Tarco took time to get a nice trail in second (one out) around the bend and was caught flat footed when the leader (I Am Gypsy) broke away at the 400m but took over at the 200m and looked the winner, running on strongly only to be nabbed in the last stride.
Husson Eagle (favourite) was last around the bend and into the straight and made his run very wide right down the outside of the track, storming home over the last 150m to lose narrowly yet in front two strides past the line.
