Drama in the Oaks

“I thought I was going to go down in a heap,” harness racing driver Ricky May said after hot favourite Empire City cast a shoe and broke, rounding the last bend in today’s $25,000 Southern Trotting Oaks at Ascot Park.

That break cost her the race.

“She was travelling,” May added.

The incident left second and third favourites Princess Sadie (Muscle Mass) and Fear And Faith (Father Patrick) to fight out the finish with Princess Sadie prevailing by a length and a quarter.

“Bad luck for Dad’s filly but good luck for us. She (Empire City) has been too hard to beat so we had to get her some way,” Princess Sadie’s trainer driver Matty Williamson said.

Named after Matty Williamson’s daughter Sadie, Princess Sadie is owned by his wife Charlotte, the Stir Fry Syndicate, Fred Donovan and Summit Bloodstock.

“We bought her at the yearling sales and I’m so glad for the people that backed us. It’s turned up trumps because she’s just a beautiful horse. Charlotte owns the majority share, Summit Bloodstock from Australia, and the Fry family have been big supporter of ours and Fred Donovan came down from the North Island to watch her today. I’m rapt for them.”

After taking an early lead Williamson handed up to take a trail behind Empire City with Fear And Faith settling third.

“She didn’t love the tight corners and was going a bit rough on the last bend. When Ricky galloped we got checked and I nearly lost her as well. As soon as she straightened up she sprinted beautifully and was as strong at the line as she’s ever been.”

PRINCESS SADIE REPLAY

Today’s win was the three year old’s third. In her thirteen start career she has been placed a further six times.

“I just really wanted to win a nice race with her. She deserves to win a nice race because she’s been the bridesmaid so many times.”

Ashburton trainer driver John Morrison was also pleased with Fear And Faith’s run.

“It was her first trip away. She didn’t eat and it was only her fifth start. She’s come a long way and when she gets home, she’ll be a lot better. I just had to come a bit wider when Ricky broke. In all fairness I think the winner had me covered anyway,” he said.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink