Zardozi claims Group 1 VRC Oaks

[Wandering Eyes]

Zardozi ridden by James McDonald wins the VRC Oaks at Flemington. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)

Zardozi ($2.80) made a mess of her rivals in the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) on Thursday afternoon at Flemington, giving the James Cummings stable two wins in the last three editions of the fillies’ staying feature.

It comes after being narrowly defeated as an odds-on favourite in Saturday’s Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) by Amazonian Lass (+900), who was able to pinch a break on the home turn to secure victory.

The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained trained filly attempted similar tactics on Thursday under Tim Clark, as Amazonian Lass pinged the lids from barrier 13.

The stablemate Tropical Squall (+450) got a lovely position in transit in behind the speed, as did Basilinna (+650) under Damian Oliver as he searched for an astonishing eighth VRC Oaks success.

Meanwhile, James McDonald and Zardozi were happy to smoke the pipe with a mid-field sit, leaving the heavily supported Aethelflaed (+500) to stalk the favourite every step of the way.

When the race went on and the whips were cracking, the best stayers were left to attack the line with 400m to travel, and realistically, there was only one horse you wanted to be on.

Zardozi stormed clear with 200m to travel, leaving her rivals fighting out the minor money, as Aethelflaed continued gamely into a second-place finish, while it just wasn’t to be for Oliver in his final VRC Oaks, settling for a third-place finish aboard Basilinna.

It was all honours to the winner in the end, as the daughter of Kingman justified the short quote, winning by a margin of 2.3 lengths.

2023 Group 1 VRC Oaks Replay – Zardozi | T: James Cummings | J: James McDonald

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James Cummings referred to the pedigree of his filly to stay out the trip on Thursday, before quickly praising James McDonald for taking out the Derby/Oaks double.

“It’s just a real privilege to be on the big stage with beautifully bred horses like this,” said Cummings.

“She’s a real reflection of his honour Sheikh Mohamed’s vision to have an international pedigree here in a VRC Oaks and for only a slender filly she packed a punch at the end of a mile and a half, as we had full confidence in her to do.

“He’s absolutely nailed it (McDonald). To win the Derby and the Oaks in the same Cup carnival is a great credit to James.

“He showed great nous early, got himself in a perfect position, settled down eighth in his own space, I love that and she let go like a weapon, that’s absolutely gold for her pedigree.”

James McDonald initially wasn’t sure if Zardozi possessed Group 1 potential until getting off her back in the Wakeful, and while disappointed to not win on Saturday, knew he was getting on a genuine winning hope on Thursday.

“A Group 1 filly? I don’t know but suppose we had it in the back of our mind with her pedigree that she would come into her own from 2000-metres onwards,” said McDonald.

“Whether she had the strength or not, James has taken the time with her and she started to blossom.

“Her run here on Saturday was phenomenal and even though we were disappointed not to win it had Oaks written all over her.

“There wasn’t a horse in this race that has a turn-of-foot like her and it was evident today when she ambled up and put them to the sword very quickly.

“Derbies and Oaks, there’s something special about them.

“I’ve never won a VRC Oaks and it’s a test of training ability, horse power and obviously you’ve got to execute pretty well because they’re immature still, my trainer’s a freak, he just set this horse for this race and it’s paid off and she had to do it, she’s a star filly, executed beautifully, bang, crash, whatever you want.

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