Oaks prospect in winning form

New Zealand-bred filly Fancy Dress took a positive step towards justifying the reason for being in Australia with a last-stride win at Kembla Grange yesterday. Racing for Garry Chittick under the banner of the famous New Zealand nursery Waikato Stud, Fancy Dress was sent to John O’Shea to be prepared for next month’s Australian Oaks and she confirmed she was heading in the right direction in the visitwollongong.com Handicap (1600m).

“She’s in the Oaks and that’s what she is here for,” O’Shea’s assistant trainer Bryce Heys said. “She still has a lot to learn in terms of tractability but she has always given the impression she will run a strong mile-and-a-half. Hopefully she can make it to the race for Waikato Stud because they have been dear friends of the stable for a long time. Her manners will get better with racing and hopefully we’ll see that if she goes to the Adrian Knox Stakes,” Heys said.

Fancy Dress, the favourite despite a $3 to $4.40 betting drift, was positioned midfield by James McDonald and she started to work her way into the race from the 500m. She still gave the leader a tidy start before arriving in time to beat Quality Impulse ($7) by a half neck. Adorabeel ($7) finished a neck away third, giving the Waikato Stud-based sire Savabeel the first and third placings.