Outstanding Western Australian filly Delicacy is no certain runner in Saturday’s Group 1 $400,000 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville.
Fenway, above in red with white cap, will be one of the main rivals to WA filly Delicacy in the Australasian Oaks at Morphettville. Photo by Steve Hart.
Delicacy has arrived in Adelaide but prominent WA owner Bob Peters wants to wait and see how the Al Maher filly settles into her new surroundings before committing to a run in the Oaks which run run under the sponsor’s name and is now called the Schweppes Oaks.
“Unless she shows us she’s absolutely right to run, she won’t run,’’ Peters told The Advertiser.
“She’s had a long campaign, we will know a lot more in the next few days.’’
“She travelled well, she’s tough, but I’m mindful of the fact she’s had a long campaign.’’
Delicacy has been the star three year old of the Perth Autumn Carnival, winning her last four starts which included a victory in the Group 3 $250,000 Reliance Partners W.A. Oaks (2400m) at Ascot on March 28 against the fillies and then beat the colts and geldings in the Group 2 $400,000 Schweppes W.A.T.C. Derby (2400m) at Ascot on April 11.
Delicacy has drawn barrier eleven in the capacity field of sixteen plus four emergencies and Peters will wait as long as possible at the end of the week to make a final decision if she will go around on Saturday.
The Grant Williams trained Delicacy will be ridden on Saturday by top Perth jockey William Pike who has been on the filly for four of her eight wins including the W.A. Oaks and the W.A.T.C. Derby.
If Peters decides to run at Morphettville on Saturday, Delicacy will be coming up against last start Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes winner Fenway and tough Victorian filly Fontein Ruby.
Fenway has drawn barrier six while front runner Fontein Ruby should have no trouble taking up her favourite spot in front from gate two.
The Robert Smerdon trained Fontein Ruby has won her last two starts from the front when she led all of the way to win the Listed $120,000 Schweppes Alexandra Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on March 27 and in the $250,000 Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria VOBIS Gold Reef (1600m) at Caulfield on April 18.
Sydney based jockey Blake Shinn sticks with Fenway in the Australasian Oaks after he steered her to victory in the Group 1 $400,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 28 and Melbourne jockey Mark Zahra is back on board Fontein Ruby replacing Nick Hall.
