Louies Girl all class in Oaks heat

The Craig Ferguson trained harness racing filly Louies Girl (Lord Forbes) underlined her class and high speed when she easily took out the fourth heat of the Macca Lodge/Nevele R Stud Southern Oaks at Wyndham today.

Ferguson stayed out of the early action when Post Painter, Always Ticking and Melody Banner made a line of three heading out of the first bend. Post Painter led early before Always Ticking took over, parking favourite Melody Banner. Heading out of the last turn Ferguson hooked Louies Girl out three wide and halfway down the home straight when her ear plugs were pulled, she found that explosive speed and quickly put her rivals to bed. The winning margin was two and a half lengths with Miki’s Beauty coming home well for second. The winning time on an easy track was a respectable 1-55.7.

“I always knew I was going to go back from the draw. She managed to be within striking distance at the top of the straight and showed her speed. She whooshed past them and switched off. She still had a little bit left in the tank,” Ferguson said.

Early in the month he was thinking the Oaks heat might be too early for his filly but a good workout win and her work during this week convinced him she was ready for a bold showing today.

“The race was run upside down. I see we only got home in 59 so that suited her as well because we got to sit back early and do nothing. On that track it was a good time and showed she was forward enough. She’s just a light framed horse who doesn’t need too many workouts to bring her on. She’s quite a naturally fit horse.”

Ferguson said Louies Girl will need to start in another heat of the Oak’s series to qualify for the final which will be held on Diamonds Day at Ascot Park on Sunday 21^st April and run over 2700 metres.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink