Upsets galore in Victoria Oaks heats

There were three heats of harness racing’s Victoria Oaks at Melton tonight (Oct. 1) with outsiders getting the spoils.

The first was Bettor’s Delight filly Just Hope who caused a minor upset at starting odds of $4.20 when leading all the way in the 2760m.

Rated to perfection by driver Nathan Jack, Just Hope zipped home clocking her last two quarters in 27.6 and 26.6 seconds to hold off the Emma Stewart trio of Petillante, race favourite Encipher and Star Celebrity.

The mile rate for that heat was 1:59.6.

It was an identical mile rate in the following heat won by Restrepo filly Relentless Me ($6).

She too led throughout with Jack Laugher at the reins with Jo An Jo finishing second, Wendys Wish third and the public elect Amore Vita more than five metres behind the winner in fourth.

The last two quarters in that qualifier was 27.2 and 26.8 seconds.

“She deserved to win a race like that,” said Laugher.

“The circumstances of her race, she had to win it with the run she had.

“I’m glad she has a heat of the Oaks win beside her name.

“She’s probably improved and gotten stronger . . . she is a big horse and can fill out even more.”

The third heat of the Victoria Oaks saw Somebeachsomewhere filly Elegant win at starting odds of $15.

Positioned behind the leader, Beach Life for Greg Sugars, by reinsman Anthony Butt, Elegant held out race favourite Soho Historia by more than a metre and clocked 1:57.2 – the fastest of the three qualifiers.

“She was great,” said Butt.

“I was just hoping Greg (Sugars) would get me to the lane . . . he just got me far enough.

“For the last two to three months I’ve said that the Oaks will really suit her, the 2700m.”

The barrier draw for the $150,000 Victoria Oaks at Melton on October 8 will be completed on Monday.

VICTORIA OAKS FINAL FIELD

JUST HOPE (Russell Jack)

PETILLANTE (Emma Stewart)

ENCIPHER (Emma Stewart)

STAR CELEBRITY (Emma Stewart)

RELENTLESS ME (Sebastian Steenhuis)

JO AN JO (Emma Stewart)

WENDYS WISH (Russell Jack)

AMORE VITA (Nathan Purdon)

ELEGANT (Geoff Webster)

SOHO HISTORIA (Emma Stewart)

MISS CHANTILLY (Ellen Bartley)

BEACH LIFE (Emma Stewart)

For complete race results and race replays, click here.

by Amanda Rando, for Harnesslink