Trainer John Bary is confident that talented filly Miss Selby will not just be making up the numbers in the 2014 Australian Oaks field at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Glen Boss will partner Miss Selby when she takes her place in the 2014 Australian Oaks field. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Miss Selby has recorded two wins from seven starts since making her racing debut at Taupo in September last year and has performed well at Group level; winning the Group 3 Little Avondale Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings on March 1 before finishing second behind Miss Mossman in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 15.
Bary told The New Zealand Racing Desk that Miss Selby did not appreciate the firm track in the New Zealand Oaks, but said that the O’Reilly filly had thrived since arriving in Australia ahead of the 2014 Australian Oaks.
“To be fair she probably just jarred up a little bit on the firm track at Wellington and we just backed off her for a week,” Bary said.
“We slowly built her back and she is really thriving.
“She is going to enjoy a bit of moisture in the track on Saturday and she had a very nice hit out at Warwick Farm with Zanbagh.
“She ran a nice mile and came home really strongly and she wouldn’t have blown a candle out.
“I am just thrilled.”
Bary has the opportunity to record two wins at Group 1 level at Royal Randwick tomorrow; with talented filly Recite set to contest the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m).
Recite scored a maiden win at the highest level of racing in the Ocean Park Levin Classic at Trentham on January 18 and won the Listed Wairarapa Breeders Stakes (1600m) at Tauherenikau on February 6 before returning to the races with a second place finish in the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha on April 5.
Bary said that Recite had taken plenty of benefit out of her run in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes and is hopeful that the Darci Brahma filly can add an Australian Group 1 victory to her racing resume.
“I think that is important for her winning a Group 1 and I think that it is also important for Darci Brahma as a stallion,” Bary said.
“She gets the weight relief and Glen Boss is on her as well, so we lose nothing there.
“She has trained on tremendously and she has improved a lot.
“Her work this morning was just exceptional.
“I am very impressed with her.”
Recite is currently available at 2014 Queen Of The Turf Stakes odds of $17, while Miss Selby is available at a quote of $17 to take out the Australian Oaks.
