Champion trainer Chris Waller became a two-time Australasian Oaks winner at Morphettville on Saturday thanks to a memorable and patient ride from Damien Thornton aboard the favourite Toffee Tongue.
The three-year-old filly by Tavistock was the only runner in the field not to have won a maiden, but was given all the favours down in the weights with Thornton hoping to achieve a maiden Group 1 victory of his own.
With most runners looking to steer clear of the inside part of the wet Morphettville track, Thornton chose to do the opposite out of the turn where he loomed up alongside Walking Flying to punch through along the rails.
The speedy New Zealand galloper was well overdue for a win after finishing runner-up in each of her last four starts. Toffee Tongue had form around classy Godolphin filly Colette in her previous two starts and also had plenty of form on the soft ground to suit.
A handful of other runners hit the line strongly out wide to challenge over the 100m, in particular La Falaise, who flashed home for fourth. Ultimately though, the speed of Toffee Tongue was too much to match as Waller claimed his second Oaks win following Egg Tart’s victory back in 2017.