Fight For Glory might not be a harness racing superstar in New Zealand where she has been overshadowed all season by The Orange Agent but once she crosses the Tasman sea, the Art Major filly is the real deal.
That is not to say she is not held in high regard in the shakey isles but in Australia she sits on top of the pedestal all on her own.
Even though she drew the second line tonight in the $100,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Albion Park, Natalie Rasmussen and Fight For Glory was still the favourite just in front of her stablemate Linda Lovegrace.
Miss Riviera Belle burned the gate from barrier seven to grab an early lead with Linda Lovegrace in the death seat with Fight For Glory in the one by one early.
However after 300 metres Champagne Dreams who was in the trail galloped and caused Fight For Glory to be restrained which let Bettor Promise slip into the one by one forcing Fight For Glory three back in the running line.
Surprisingly, soon after Peter McMullen angled Bettor Promise out of the one by one and tried to go forward but Shane Graham kicked up on Linda Lovegrace, leaving Bettor Promise three wide for the rest of the race.
Thus Fight For Glory was back in the one by one and as soon as she got clear air at the 400 metres mark, she quickly grabbed the lead and was too strong in the straight.
Morton Plains, the stablemate of Menin Gate flew late for second just in front of an equally game Ameretto who flashed late for an unlucky third.
Tonights win was the fourth Oaks success for Fight For Glory this season which is a good indication of her class.
Fight For Glory paced the 2138 metres in 2:34.4, a mile rate of 1:56.2 with closing sectionals of 56.1 and 27.8
Natalie was all smiles post race.
" Once she got into the one by one, I was really confident a long way out that she would win the race."
" She is such an honest filly and she can really let down when she gets a bit of cover."
" The owners from New Zealand all made the trip over so I am so pleased she got the job done for them," Natalie said
One of those owners in attendance is the former outstanding New Zealand thoroughbred trainer Jimmy Gibbs.
" It is always great to win a Group 1 in either code."
" I am just very fortunate to have Mark and Natalie train my horses for me," Jimmy said.
Fight For Glory may have to play second fiddle to The Orange Agent in New Zealand but in Australia she is the queen of the three year old fillies.
Harnesslink Media