The 12f Gr1 Adelaide Oaks
The Adelaide Oaks
Purse: $500,000
Grade: 1
Sex: Fillies
Age: 3 yrs old only
Distance: 1 ¼
Surface: Turf (listed firm)
Welcome all to the beautiful land know as Queensland. It is the northern section of Eastern Australia. Today the masses have come out to see this testing Gr1 for 3 yr old fillies. The distance is a demanding 12f. The 2nd ranked long distance horse in the division is here today. We have some up and coming fillies who are trying to make their own name for themselves. To win this Gr1, you need 2 things: Class and pedigree. Simply put, but grossly understated. It takes a special horse at this young age to win a 12f Gr1. Let’s take a look at these young fillies starting from the rail out:
Zombie Vampires-Gorytus- A 3 yr old filly by Dance To Destiny that comes here today off a starter allowance victory (40,000) at 8f. In May, Zombie faced a field of 4 other colts in an Allow4x race. She took control from the gate and won by a convincing 3 ¼ lengths. She then returned to face colts again in a Starter Allowance 30,000 at 7 ½ f. She was a hard closing 3 and missed by a length. Today, Zombie faces a much tougher competitive crowd. She has run well against the boys 3 out of 5 times she has faced, but they didn’t have the collective class as these. From a distance perspective, although never has been more than 9f, she should get a nice trip. If a few others in here faulter at the distance, which is very possible with a few stretch outs, she is capable of getting perhaps a piece with the short field. She must improve her speed numbers dramatically here, and prove that she has the right to face this kind. Has a lot to do today, but not impossible with the distance possibility and the fact that others may not want either. 13-1 and gets Bailey in the saddle.
Street Cheer-Kobras-Northwest Racing Circuit Residency- A 3 yr old filly out of Street Cry, Street Cheer comes into today’s race a victor in her last, an allowance nw3l race. In that victory, Street Cheer broke 2nd, stalked the pace and took over down the lane to win by a convincing 2 ½ lengths in the turf listed as good. In her prior, the Haley’s Comet Stakes, Street Cheer ran a disappointing 9th. Her 1st test at graded level was in the gr3 Longest Walk. In that 9f event, she ran her best speed number to date, but finished 5th. Street Cheer may have picked a good spot here today for her trainer. Firstly, it’s small field. 2ndly, she will show where she’s at in terms of her progress. She is facing a few toughies in here today, and she will get some good learning experience from the race regardless of the outcome. She may need a bit more time to develop to this level here, but sometimes Sim horses run their best when u least expect it. Is still very young in her career, so she has plenty of time if not today, to get back to this level. (Scratch Breed). 9-1 and gets Phillips in the irons.
Reed Road- Supers Stable- Del Penn National Residency- Reed Road, a 3 yr old daughter of HenrytheNavigator comes into today’s race after running a bang up 2nd in the 2.1 Million dollar Japanese Oaks. In that race, Reed Road flashed her brilliant early speed and opened up by an astounding 8 lengths. She fought hard through the stretch, but just couldn’t hold off a perfectly timed move from the winner, Draft Date. If there is a horse in the Sim that emulates a horse in RL, it’s this one and Precious Passion. She only runs one way, and it’s come catch me if you can. If you choose to run with her, you most likely do so at your own peril; not hers. One month prior, Reed Road lined up in the prestigious Gr1 Sydney Oaks. Again at 12f, Reed Road would open up by 3 throughout, but again just couldn’t hold on through the stretch. She finished 3rd, losing by 9 lengths. Her biggest 3 yr old victory came in the Gr2 New Zealand Oaks. Down the backside she opened up an insurmountable lead of 11 lengths. The grand daughter of Pleasant Colony would fight hard to the wire and gut out a ½ length win. Her 104 speed number was the divisions highest to that point and she had now won a graded race at 10f and 12f. As a 2 yr old, Reed Road had the distinction of also whipping up on some boys. In the Gr1 St. Cloud, Reed Road would face 13 colts. Going off at almost 11-1, Reed Road would again take control of the race from the onset. She would turn for home with a ¼ length lead and extend that to ½ length at the wire. She was nominated as outstanding Eclipse Turf filly as a 2yr old. For today, Reed will definitely set the pace throughout. There is no speed that can match her up front. She has been tested a lot lately though, and if she’s vulnerable, today may be the day. She comes back for a 12f Gr1 after only 2 weeks rest; a demanding task for any horse. She has the class and if she is ready to return so short, a definite threat here today. (Scratch breed) 2-1 favorite and gets lead man Wyatt for the mount.
Hoohah-Tees Stable- EAAA Residency- A 3 yr old daughter of Distorted Humor, Hoohah comes into today’s race with her best lifetime effort. In the Gr1 Saint Larry, Hoohah set the pace throughout and just got caught late to finish in 2nd, a 1 ¼ behind. She earned a 103 speed number for her race. That is the 2nd highest speed number in the field today. Her tactics applied in that race were a bit different than in her allowance races, where she was more of a mid-pack closer. Although she is still eligible for an allowance nw3l race, she comes back to try and repeat her effort last time out. Can she move even more forward after that surprising last? If she can, she can be dangerous for a couple reasons. She showed a different dimension in her last by running on the front end. Understandable if a horse is dropping in class, not going up; so why the change? I don’t know, but it definitely will help some others in here that at least one horse may force Reed to go a tiny bit quicker. She gets the 2nd spot in the race throughout, and if can fire when Reeds slows a bit, she may have the first crack at her. Comes back in 3 weeks rest for another shot at a Gr. 1 . She must run an image of her last, if not better today to get the victory. We’ll see today if this gal has in fact learned a new running style and if in fact she’s fully ready for this class. (D rank mare- ½ to a Graded Winner) 4-1 and Cameron in the stir-ups.
Septicemique- Oostende- Yoss Sim Tools Residency- a daughter of Septieme Ciel, has finished 1st or 2nd in 7 of her last 8 starts. Although most of those came in allowance company, the grand daughter of Ile De Bourbon has won a stakes race, and finished 2nd in grade 3 company already. She has been trained beautifully by gradually increasing her distance every time out. In her latest, the Gr2 Diana Trail at 11f, she took the lead early, stayed there until almost the quarter pole, and then weakened in the stretch. She is a consistent horse to own, and today will give Ooestend a better idea if she can in fact run to her intended long turf breeding. She will also give a final cue as to where her class is in terms of this field. If she runs well, it could be a nice long turf summer for this gal. If she retreats again as was the last, we may have to go back to the drawing board. She won’t get the lead here today, but her best races have come when she is sitting mid-pack which is where she’ll be today. Speed numbers are competitive with the fields; she just has to prove that she wants the 12f today. A good threat here today. 4-1 and Wilber in the saddle. (Scratch Bred)
Dance Cat Dance-Desperado-Blazing Saddles Residency- Lightly raced 3 yr old filly sired by Danehill Dancer comes into today after a 4th place finish Gr2 Diana Trail Stakes. In that field of 11 others, Dance Cat Dance broke a distant 10th, trailing the field by 12 lengths down the backside. She put in a belated rally and closed to 4th, losing by 6 lengths. In her prior, the Gr3 Penelope Cruz, Dance Cat Dance faced 10 others. Similar to her last, she trailed the field 12 ¾ lengths down the back straightaway. She again put in a nice mild rally and got up to 4th again, losing by a closing 6 lengths. This girl will have a big future in front of her. She is lightly raced and is still learning the game. She has some great pedigree to go long, and when the races stretch out even further, she may become your division leader. Is she ready now? Well, I think she and Street Lemon are in for a dogfight because they both like to come closing late. With no real pace horses in here to challenge Reed early, they again may be at Reeds’ mercy throughout. Her speed numbers are steadily increasing, which is a sign of a horse who is almost ready to break through. Time and distance may be all this gal needs. If she can improve like she has been, with a bit more significance, she may spell trouble for the rest of them. If not today, she will be heard from again most definitely. A good up and comer for Desperado. (F rank mare, 1st foal) 5-1 and Radke in the saddle.
Street Lemon-Metallinut-URC Residency- A 3 yr old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid, Street Lemon is starting to find some consistent form. In her last, the Gr3 Vanguard, Street Lemon was charging hard but couldn’t get to the winner and lost by a closing 2 lengths. Her speed number of 99 was the 3rd straight increase for this girl and she seems to have found a niche going a bit longer. Is 12f the right distance for her? Well it’s always hard to say until the fact that they run it. She seems to want more, is developing at the right time, and deserves a shot here in the Gr1 competition. In her prior to the Gr3, Street Lemon faced 6 others in the NG $250,000 How Are You Gentleman Cup. Trailing by 10 ¾ lengths with 4f to go, the granddaughter of Street Cry came with a full head of steam down the stretch. She would go on to a nail the win at the wire and her speed number of 94 was her first one above 90. Interesting note with this filly is that she and Reed Road actually faced off together in the Gr1 St. Cloud (colts). Reed Road was the winner of that open race, and Street Lemon would finish a respectable 5th, losing by 6 lengths to Reed. She’s back for another shot at Reed and she has tremendous upswing to tackle her here today. She will give Metallinut a much needed gauge as to where she’s at right now, by taking on one of the best in the division. Does she want 12f? Is her signs that she is improving enough to get the job done today? Will Reed Road’s easy lead compromise her running style? All of these questions will be answered here today, but if she has even some of those questions in her favor, she is a capable threat here today to Reed Road. ( G Rank Mare, 1st racing foal) 4-1 and Deberg in the stir-ups.
Smoke’s Anaylsis:
Although a small field, we have some quality contenders and possibly some stars on the rise. The race goes through one horse today. That horse is Reed Road. There may not be a more fun horse to watch run, then she. She doesn’t go up early by small amounts; she puts all other horses off the screen. She can carry her speed a long way. Now whether today that’s enough to notch another graded race to her resume is to be seen. Here’s my stab at 3 and best of luck to all trainers!!!
1) Street Lemon- Have to think that she is going to like the 12f fine. She seems like a horse that’s coming into her own right now, and she catches Reed Road off only 2 weeks rest. Must prove today that she is in that same class, but I think capable today.
2) Reed Road- Classy filly is going to lead them as far as she possibly can and very well maybe to the wire. From a pace perspective, she shouldn’t get much pressure up front at all today, which may help her immensely. Still the 2 week comeback scares me, but class horses have a way of getting the job done regardless. Tough as they come.
3) Septicemique- Putting 3rd because I think the pace scenario may favor her more so than Hoohah, Dance Cat Dance or Street Cheer. The fact that Reed Road will take control of this race early, puts here in the 2nd or 3rd spot throughout.She must get the jump on Hoohah though becuase she may be trailing her. Then she has to fend off late closers, but if can let Reed do her thing early and save some, will be the first to take a possible shot.
Best of luck to all here today. The race is filled with legendary winners and today’s runners will not fall short of that. Get in your seats, ‘cause it’s now post time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here is the history of the Adelaide Oaks…. A special thanks to Stevesimo who provided this statistical information!!!
“As with the Derby the Adelaide Oaks was also first run in the year 2000 at the Victoria track before being switched to Queensland last year and with that switch the stakes money was increased from $400K to $500K. While being held in Victoria jockey T Myslinski rode the winners of both the 2002 and 2007 versions. The race record is 2m31 set by KRISHNA in 2004. Now lets look at the previous winners.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
Year Winner Sire Owner Jockey
2009 VEGAS FREAK(KY) by Empire Maker (lenny11) Z Zariz
2008 PELENNOR FIELDS(KY) by Aragorn (stormboot2) N Hartel
2007 KNEEL BEFORE ZOD(KY) by Rock Hard Ten (willyam40) T Myslinski
2006 WICKED WENCH(IRE) by Montjeu (tesio) N Fagan
2005 HAIL TO THE KING by Kingmambo (redturkey) G Adler
2004 KRISHNA(IRE) by Theatrical (paceman2) M Miller
2003 FIVE LITTLEINDIANS(IRE) by Adieu Au Roi (triptych) C Brim
2002 HUSHWING HAWK by Sadlers Wells (hushwing) T Myslinski
2001 BETTER THAN KRIS by Sadlers Wells (sexualcoco) C Crockett
2000 CECIL ROO by Affirmed (toplight) N Love
The very first winner of the Adelaide Oaks was the AFFIRMED filly CECIL ROO who finished her racing career the winner of nine Grade Ones. In her 67 starts she won 28 races all up and $6.5M in stakes for her owner toplight. She has had seven offspring to race with four of them winning the best being Stakes Winner MEGA HIT the winner of 4 races and $121K and Stakes Placed STREET ROO the winner of $249K in stakes.
The 2004 winner KRISHNA owned by paceman2 is the current race record holder and finished her 57 race career with 23 wins including seven Grade Ones and $5.4M in stakes. Three of her four progeny have won and with all still being active I am sure their record will improve. The best of four is the five year old mare DANISHA a Stakes Winner and Group Placed. Her overall record stands at six wins and $322K from 26 starts.
Last years winner VEGAS FREAK has continued to race well including an Allowance win in New Zealand. Placed at her last three runs another win looks just around the corner.
Good Luck to all this years entries.