NZ record broken in Oaks

Arafura (Sweet Lou) continued to climb up the ranking in the highly contested three year old fillies age group when she easily won the $100,000 Group One Pascoe The Jewellers Northern Oaks at Alexandra Park tonight.

ARAFURA REPLAY

And the win added to the excellent results achieved recently by her West Melton trainers Hayden and Amanda Cullen.

“It’s terrific I can do it for Hayden and Amanda who are just starting off and for Kevin McKerrow (owner) for giving me the drive,” winning driver Tony Herlihy said after the two and a half length win.

The time of 3-15.9 broke the race record of 3-16.4 held by 2019 winner Best Western and it also broke Amazing Dream’s New Zealand record of 3-16.2.

Herlihy from barrier one was able to secure the perfect trip for the 2700 metre Oaks behind favourite Beside Me.

“It probably suited her being genuinely run because she was a bit keen and on the bit all the way. I just wondered if the 2700 would take it out of her but she found the line really good and took a bit of pulling up. She’s got a bit of stamina which is a big help for these girls.”

Surprisingly this was only the second time Herlihy has won this race. His other win was twenty four years ago with English Elegance trained by Mark Purdon.

It was the thirty six Group One win for Hayden Cullen.

His first was with Bettor Cover Lover which he trained with Brent Mangos in the 2011 Queen Of Hearts.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink