Fenway was ruled out of the 2015 Australian Oaks due to injury, but co-trainer Shannon Hope is optimistic that the talented filly will be passed fit to contest the 2015 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville on May 2.
Fenway scored a maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2015 Vinery Stud Stakes and he will have another win at the highest level in the Australasian Oaks. Photo by: Steve Hart
Fenway stamped herself as a genuine contender for the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) when she upset First Seal to win the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 28, but she was ruled out of the $1 million after she developed a pulse in her near fore hoof and was found to be lame.
While the Hope stable were disappointed that Fenway was unable to take her place in the Australian Oaks field, Shannon Hope revealed that he did not rate the chances of the High Chaparral filly on a wet track anyway and he told Racing.Com that his focus has now changed to having the three-year-old ready for the Australasian Oaks next month.
“We’ll know more in the next 48 hours but this morning was the first time we could put a saddle on her and we gave her a trot and she seemed to be fine,” Hope said.
“From Wednesday we couldn’t work her because she was too lame.
“I was really concerned with the track anyway with the way it raced and she’s never handled the wet.
“It just obviously wasn’t meant to be so we’ll just concentrate on getting her right for Adelaide.
“Fitness isn’t a problem, she’s won over a mile-and-a-quarter and she’s only missed three days work.
“It is not the end of the world and we’re not playing catch up.”
Fenway progressed to Group level in just her third race start and finished a gallant third behind Thunder Lady in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day before she was sent to the spelling paddock.
The three-year-old started her autumn campaign with a pair of fourth place finishes in the Group 3 The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington on February 21 and the Group 3 Schweppervescence Trophy (1600m) at the same venue on March 14 before he tough staying victory in the Vinery Stud Stakes.
The Australasian Oaks has not drawn the strongest fields in recent years, but the likes of Not A Happy Camper, Kansas Sunflower, Fontein Ruby and Redasun are all a chance to contest the Group 1 event.
