Shamrocker's win in the Australian Derby has left her Oaks competitors sweating

Trainer of Brazilian Pulse Mike Moroney is sweating a little bit after Shamrocker’s Australian Derby win heading into the Australian Oaks this weekend at Randwick.

Brazilian Pulse won the VRC Oaks ahead of Shamrocker during the spring last year but that hasn’t stopped Shamrocker being installed as the new favourite on the back of two Group 1 victories in 2011.

Her other victory came when she won at big odds in the Australian Guineas and she also placed in the Rosehill Guineas but she’s yet to run into Brazilian Pulse since that defeat last year.

“I suppose it franks our filly’s form,” Moroney said of Shamrocker’s Derby win.

“I know their camp are pretty confident their filly has improved from the spring, I think our filly has improved a bit too and it’s going to make for an interesting race on Saturday.

“They are not the only two in it either, the filly (Mirjulisa Lass) that won the Vinery Stud Stakes looks a good staying filly too, so it could be a strong version of the Oaks this year.”

The VRC Oaks has been a solid form guide for the Australian Oaks in the past with 15 fillies having already claimed the double.

However being the best in the spring doesn’t always mean you’ll be the best in the Autumn.

“I think what happens is the other fillies get a chance to mature up and pass some of those fillies in the autumn, and at their age six months makes a big difference,” Moroney said.

“You are always open for those sort of horses to join in which wouldn’t have been there in the spring and it looks like the one that has joined in is the filly that won the Vinery.

“Then you’ve got the two that ran first and second in the VRC Oaks and their form has stood up which is good, because the odd time it doesn’t.”

The form of Brazilian Pulse certainly isn’t bad with a second-up victory in the Keith Nolan Classic and a third in the Vinery Stud Stakes after looking out of the race at the turn.

She’s pulled up fine from that run and performed well in track work with stable mate Muirfield.

“Craig Williams came and worked her and he was happy with her,” Moroney said.

“He thought that her fitness levels were good, her action was great, he said she wanted to switch on and off in her work a bit but that’s her, and the last part of her work was very good.”