A look at the pedigrees of this year’s VRC Oaks field
Delving into the bloodlines can often be a project that helps unravel spring three-year-old staying features when the combatants are stepping out to 2500-metre for the first time.
Below is a look at the credentials of those engaged in Thursday's $1 million Group 1 VRC Oaks at Flemington.
SHE'S EXTREME (Extreme Choice x Keysbrook): By one of the country's hottest stallions, albeit one who was a precocious Group 1 sprinter and has thrown predominantly speed types, such as Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside. That said, She's Extreme is a member of just his second crop and will become his first starter in a race beyond 2000m on Thursday. In fact, She's Extreme is the only son or daughter of the Newgate stallion to have run beyond 1600m, having finished third in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at her most recent appearance. She's Extreme is a descendant of a strong Darley/Godolphin family that includes Aichi, Detours, Le Mans and Jorda, who were sprinting types, but perhaps the most ringing endorsement for her staying prospects is that she is out of a So Secret mare who placed behind Delicacy in both the G2 WA Derby and G3 WA Oaks, both over 2400m.
ZENNZELLA (Snitzel x Zennista): $350,000 Gold Coast buy who is by a four-time Australian Champion Sire award winner, but one who is yet to have a Derby or Oaks winner. From a Zenno Rob Roy mare who won at Group 3 level on multiple occasions and up to 2400m and was runner-up in a G1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m). Second dam Zarnista is a half-sister to Chartreuse, who is the dam of former NZ 3YO Filly of the Year, Platinum Witness, who won a G1 NZ Thousand Guineas (1600m) and was also runner-up in the NZ Oaks.
RENAISSANCE WOMAN (Reliable Man x Mrs Kennedy): By a stallion who has already produced a VRC Oaks winner – Miami Bound – and the NZ$250,000 Karaka purchase might be calling on her sire's stamina with the damside of her pedigree dominated by speed. Third dam Lady Jakeo was a Blue Diamond winner whose daughter Miss Jakeo has had 10 to race for nine winners, including Mrs Kennedy and Mrs Onassis, winner of the Oakleigh Plate.
PAVITRA (American Pharoah x Gypsy Robin): Carries the Kia Ora Stud colours after being passed in in the Inglis Easter Sale and the fact she is a half-brother to last year's G1 Moir Stakes (1000m) winner Wild Ruler would not instil confidence that Pavitra can run an Oaks trip. However, further back there is some American form beyond 2000m and where Wild Ruler is by Snitzel, Pavitra is a son of a former US Triple Crown winner.
FOXY CLEOPATRA (American Pharoah x Casuarina Forest): Another by the Triple Crown who stood a few season at Coolmore, Foxy Cleopatra cost $120,000 at the Inglis Easter Sale. Out of an unraced Fastnet Rock mare who is a sister to a Group 1 winner, but one who excelled over sprint trips with Foxwedge a winner of the William Reid Stakes (1200m), having also placed in a Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and Newmarket Handicap (1200m).
LET'SBEFRANKBABY (Frankel x Baby Pink): By a son of Galileo who is one of the all-time great racehorses who is well on the way to becoming a legendary stallion. From an I Am Invincible mare who won up to 2500m and is a sister to other Black Type performers up to 2816m in the UK. You don't have to go too far back to find Galileo on the damside either, with Baby Pink out of a daughter of Galileo.
AS TIME GOES BY (Deep Impact x A Time For Julia): By legendary Japanese racehorse and stallion who won a Japan Cup ad has sired Japan Cup winners from a descendant of one of the all-time great Australian female families. A Time For Julia was at her best over sprint trips, but she is out of blue hen Procrastinate (Jade Hunter), whose progeny include Personify, the dam of 2020 VRC Oaks winner Personal.
QUEEN AIR (Toronado x Rain Cloud): By a former star sprinter whose best products have also been sprinters, but is the dam of G1 Queensland Derby (2400m) placegetter Senor Toba and G1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) placegetter Affair To Remember. Damside is predominantly speed-based, however, with Rain Cloud by Domesday out of a Hurricane Sky mare whose two wins were both at 1000m.
SIRIUS PRINCESS (Hooked x Cosmic Choice): By a son of Casino Prince who won up to 1600m, in the G2 Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley, out of a daughter of Redoute's Choice who never won beyond 1100m and was a daughter of a G2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) winner who doesn't boast a great deal of staying performances within the pedigree.
MAKRANA (Pierro x Gunawati): By a champion 2YO who won the Sydney Triple Crown, but also placed in a Cox Plate and has thrown an ATC Derby winner (Levendi) and a VRC Oaks winner (Pinot). Mark Kavanagh went to $150,000 for Makrana at Inglis Premier, perhaps because he also prepared Gunawati, who is by Galileo but won her only race over 1200m and is a half-sister to One Last Dance, who won a Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) and Prelude (1100m). Third dam Prawn Cocktail is a half-sister to Royal Academy and the dam of Storm Cat, but there is some Black Type staying form on the page with G1 Sydney Cup (3200m) runner-up Older Than Time appearing further back.
ALBANIAN ICON (Holler x Brown Bombshell): By a Group 1 winner who competed at Royal Ascot, but not in races you'd expect of a horse to throw an Oaks winner. There is some depth to the damside of the pedigree with second dam Professional Lady a 10-time winner, including the Listed Pinjarra Cup (2300m) and Listed Bunbury Cup (2200m). Group 2 Cox Stakes (2400m) winners Mr Raku and Celtus also appear further back on the damside of the page. Would provide a sale-ring fairytale if she did snare the $600,000 winner's purse, having cost just $2500 at the Inglis Gold Yearling Sale.
