Amore and Madrid – the NSW Oaks big players

Next week’s $200,000 New South Wales Oaks looks an open affair outside of tonight’s two heat winners at Menangle.

Classy fillies Amore Vita and Madrid spaced their rivals in the respective heats and are set to be the main fancies for the Group 1 ahead of the barrier draw.

Most of the other qualifiers for the Group 1 started at double figure odds in the two heats.

The Nathan Purdon-trained Amore Vita claimed the first heat after working to the lead in the 2400m event and clocking 1:55.2.

Driver Cameron Hart was impressed with how the daughter of Art Major handled her first start at Menangle.

“She was really professional and thought she would star gaze when she got out on track but she was really sharp in the warm up,” said Hart.

“She showed her class and I’m just stoked to get a drive like this on a filly like this.”

With Amore Vita’s usual reinsman Chris Alford in Victoria for the night with driving commitments, Hart was handed the reins on the filly for the first time.

A closing quarter of 26 seconds saw Amore Vita space her rivals by more than 10m with Steno, Just Hope, Chevrons Bypass and Miss Chantilly also qualifying for next Saturday night’s feature.

Hart was also behind the reins on Madrid who produced an almost identical run to Amore Vita, however, the daughter of Bling It On rated a faster 1:54.2.

“I was really happy with this filly tonight, she went super,” said Hart.

“She felt so good and I was holding her back a bit.

“She’s a quality filly.”

The others to qualify for the NSW Oaks from this heat were Goldies A Delight, Lets Party Baby, Mykorona and Just Remember Me.

The barrier draw for the NSW Oaks will be finalised on Monday.

By Amanda Rando for Harnesslink