Coastal Babe leading New Zealand’s Victoria Oaks charge

New Zealand-trainer Steven Reid has left Coastal Babe (Downbytheseaside) in the very capable hands of superior harness racing trainers Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin ahead of Saturday night’s second heat of the Pryde’s Easifeed Victoria Oaks.

“She (Coastal Babe) is currently at Emma Stewart’s and all I have heard is that she has settled in well and they are really happy with her,” Reid said. “She has been there about two weeks now.

“I spoke to Emma (Stewart) about her, but she is a pretty straight-forward filly.”

The Pukekohe resident might join the three-year-old if she makes next week’s $150,000 final.

“I possible will (come down), If she goes well in the heat, I may very well come over for the final,” he said.

The plan to target the Oaks was not always on the radar for the 61-year-old.

“It was a bit of an afterthought, we have a big race coming up here for the fillies and she wasn’t paid up for that,” he said.

“We thought if we can’t race in that race maybe something like the Victoria Oaks might be a good option.” 

The three-year-old has only raced 12 times for five wins, but has mixed it with another Emma Stewart-import in New Zealand.

“She raced Kiss a few times over here and she sort of had Kiss’s measure,” he said. “I’d like to sort of think she is a bit of a notch up on Kiss.

James Herbertson has been booked to drive the filly out of Jessies Girl, with the pair drawing two for the 2720m trip.

“She won the Caduceus Classic as a two-year-old and she equalled the national record that night and led from six,” Reid said.

“She has got terrific gate speed, obviously the only thing that I would say is, fresh up 2760m with then having to back up a week later, she is a pretty versatile gaited mare, so I can’t see that much being too much of a problem.”

Saturday night’s second heat of the Pryde’s Easifeed Victoria Oaks is set to go at 8.46pm

The $150,000 Victorian Oaks final is set for October 12 and is one of six Group 1 contests on the Sportsbet Victoria Cup card.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Lachlan Mitchell, for Harness Racing Victoria