Black Caviar Lightning last scratching Faatinah has been included among the nineteen nominations for the 2017 Group 1 $500,000 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Faatinah, above, is among the nominations for the 2017 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Faatinah will have to pass a vet’s check to be cleared to run on Saturday but Lindsay Park co-trainer David Hayes said that the Nicconi four year old had come through uninjured from the barrier incident that resulted in him, Orujo and The Quarterback all being late scratchings before the Joe Pride trained Terravista went on to win the Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington last Saturday.
The Quarterback was first to go off in the barrier and slipped down and kicked out to Orujo and Faatinah who were standing either side of him in the stalls and all three were checked by the vet and declared unfit to run.
“Absolutely 100 per cent. He (Faatinah) trotted up after the race,” Hayes told The Age.
The Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig have also nominated Fast ‘N’ Rocking, Miss Promiscuity and Sheidel for the Oakleigh Plate.
Brilliant colt Extreme Choice is one of five three-year-olds nominated to take on the older sprinters in the Oakleigh Plate, the others being Darren Weir trained El Divino, Group 1 winning filly I Am A Star, Guard Of Honour from the Kris Lees stable and Robbie Laing’s Missrock.
Trainer Mick Price said that Extreme Choice galloped exceptionally well on Saturday morning at Caulfield he expects the Not A Single Doubt colt to run a bold first up race in the Oakleigh Plate.
“I think it is a really good sign. I think he will run fantastic in the Oakleigh Plate,” Price told G1X.
Canberra trainer Matt Dale is hoping Fell Swoop can breakthrough for his maiden Group 1 win in the Oakleigh after being placed at Group 1 level on four occasions, the latest being at his last start before heading to the spelling paddock when third behind Malaguerra and Spieth in the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on the last day of the 2016 four day Melbouurne Cup Carnival.
As well as nominating three year old El Divino for the Oakleigh Plate, premiership leading trainer Darren Weir has also entered last year’s winner Flamberge, the promising Hellbent and the in-form Thermal Current.
Team Hawkes’ only entry for the Oakleigh Plate is Kaepernick who hasn’t raced since winning the $150,000 Choisir Handicap (1100m) at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day.
Early market order for the Oakleigh Plate at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.50 Extreme Choice, $6 Fell Swoop, $7 Hellbent, $11 I Am A Star, $12 El Divino, $14 Sheidel, Wild Rain, $16 Faatinah, Kaepernick, Thermal Current, $17 Flamberge, $21 Guard Of Honour, Miss Promiscuity, Ocean Embers, $31 Fast “N’ Rocking, $51 Aegean Sea, Missrock, Shakespearean Lass, $201 Ready Sunshine.
