Fillies final fling in Southern Oaks

All the heats are done and dusted and on Sunday at Ascot Park another three year old harness racing filly will be added to the list of the forty one previous winners of the $60,000 Group Two Macca Lodge/Nevele R Stud Southern Oaks.

Southland stables are well represented and Branxholme trainer Nathan Williamson has two runners going to the start line – Flying Ellie (Art Major) and Ruby Roe (Captaintreacherous).

Williamson was forced to run Flying Ellie in last Saturday’s Winton Cup after the final heat of the Oaks was cancelled. She galloped away and took no part.

“She just followed them around (at Winton). She’s bounced through that well and we’ll keep the training up to her this week. I think she’ll go a good race on Sunday,” Williamson said.

Barrier two appears to be a good draw for her and the 2700 metre distance will also suit.

“She raced really well in the Northern Oaks and hit the line well so she’ll definitely see out the distance. She’s got good gate speed and is one of those fillies that’s hard to head off if she manages to find the front.”

Matthew Williamson will handle Flying Ellie.

Ruby Roe has been freshened since returning from Auckland. She’s the only filly on the second row so has some options.

“She’s had a couple of private runs at Ascot Park. She was a wee bit funny the last time we went, shying, looking at things and not focussing on the job in hand. Her work yesterday (Monday) was really good and I’m really happy with her. She’ll need a bit of luck from her draw but I think she’ll race well.”

Another local chance is the Brett Gray trained filly Always Ticking (Always B Miki).

She raced in Group company last season, winning the Leonard Memorial and finishing sixth in the Group One Ace Of Diamonds. She ran home well on this course at her last start.

Always Ticking worked with race rival Aardie B Miki at Ascot Park this morning and her trainer was happy.

“She went well. Nice and strong to the line and she seems to be right for the day. I hope it’s a true run race and we can get a bit of it. She lacks a bit of high speed but loves the longer distances and she’s quite tough,” Gray said.

Aardie B Miki (Always B Miki) lines up in Sunday’s Oaks.

“She worked quietly over a mile and a half with Brett’s filly, so they got a good look at each other. Both fillies got to the line strong. They went 31.5 down the back and got home in 27.5. They both wanted to run through the line which is great,” Steve Telfer said.

The filly brings strong Addington form to Ascot Park and gets a good draw to work with.

“There’s a bit of speed inside and out but she’s got gate speed as well. She led up last time and got run down but she’s equally as good off a helmet.”

Craig Ferguson who drove last year’s winner Treacherous Gall, (Captaintreacherous) trains and will drive Louies Girl (Lord Forbes) in Sunday’s filly’s feature. She led in her last win and held on to win by a head.

“It was her first run around Invercargill and being a heat I had her a little bit short to get through to the final. We probably didn’t see the best of her the other day but she did dig in for the fight. She’s shown she’s really good coming off the back of them but I think leading won’t worry her either if that’s how it plays out. Her work since has been really good and she’s stepped up. I’m really happy with her,” Ferguson said.

The honours board for this race includes Shortys Girl, Champagne Princess, Mainland Banner, Beaudiene Bad Babe, Bettor Talk Art and Aardies Express.

The race record of 3-16.3 for the 2700 metre mobile is held by Stylish Memphis which won for Mark Jones in 2020.

This will be the 25^th year that Nevele R Stud has been involved in sponsoring this race.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink