So Dazzling into Oaks favourite

[Wandering Eyes]

Randwick trainer John Sargent has built a reputation as a trainer of Oaks fillies, and he’s got another headed to the VRC Oaks in So Dazzling (NZ) (So You Think) who took out the Kennedy Oaks Preview on Sunday (1800m).

So Dazzling, who is guaranteed a start in the VRC Oaks after the win and was installed as the favourite after the race, continued a great vein of success for Sargent at Flemington with his three-year-old fillies.

In 2013 Sargent trained Kirramosa (NZ) (Alamosa) to win both the Wakeful Stakes and the VRC Oaks.

He almost achieved the same feat in 2014 as Thunder Lady (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) won the Wakeful Stakes and finished second in the VRC Oaks.

Again in 2017 he trained the winner of the Wakeful Stakes with Luvaluva (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) and she finished fourth in the Oaks.

He also trained Gust Of Wind (NZ) (Darci Brahma) to win the 2015 Australian Oaks. 

So Dazzling was bred by Canterbury based breeders Annabel Wigley and Olly Tuthill of Beaufort Downs who sold her at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Sale for $200,000 to Duncan Ramage of DGR Thoroughbreds and John Sargent.

Damien Oliver, who has ridden a record seven VRC Oaks winners, said she was a lovely staying filly.

“She didn’t show any speed at all early but she was great the last 150 of her race last time, like the distance was going to suit her today and it did,” Oliver said.

He said So Dazzling ambled into the race and may have hit the front a bit too early.

“These colours are famous for staying races and John Sargent certainly knows what he’s doing with staying horses so she’s got a bit going for her.”

Oliver was referring to the famous colours of the black and white checks, yellow sleeves, black and white checked cap which were used by the late Dato Tan Chin Nam and Bart Cummings.

Horses who have carried those famous colours include So Dazzling’s sire So You Think and Melbourne Cup winners in Think Big 1974-75, Saintly 1996 and Viewed in 2008.

Oliver remarked that he won the Brisbane Cup on Viewed in 2008 in those colours but couldn’t make the weight for the Melbourne Cup later on that year.

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