Hiyaam Aiming For Group 1 Double

[Wandering Eyes]

With three of the last four winners of the G1 Australian Oaks (2400m) coming through either the New Zealand Derby or the New Zealand Oaks, three of Saturday’s runners come through those form lines, but this year’s G1 Vinery Stud S. over 2000m could prove a better pointer to the result.

Won impressively by Mick Price’s Hiyaam (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}), the G1 Vinery Stud S.-winning filly looks to have the right attributes heading into the 2400m, having also finished a pleasing third in the G1 VRC Oaks over 2500m during the spring.

Charging late as she so often does, Chris Waller’s Unforgotten (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was just under two lengths behind Hiyaam in second last time out, but the start prior over 1500m, finished ahead of her, indicating that the Vinery one-two could finish the same here.

Dominant in the G3 Lowland S. (2100m) and the G1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), the Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained Savvy Coup (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) looks to be another one capable of giving a New Zealand-bred their fifth consecutive victory in the race through her strong staying prowess. A winner of the G2 Wakeful S. during the spring before fourth in the G1 VRC Oaks five days later, the John Sargent-trained Luvaluva (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) comes into Saturday’s Oaks off the back of two impressive Group 3 victories over 1600m and 2000m and should be ready fourth up for the 2400m.

Failing as the short-priced favourite in the G1 VRC Oaks, Aloisia (NZ) (Azamour {Ire}) has had somewhat of a quite preparation compared to the spring, but heads to the Oaks after a third behind Hiyaam and Unforgotten. Likely to start one of the outsiders of the 13-horse field, Nigel Blackiston’s Naivasha (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}) is coming off a seven-length win over 2100m at just her third start, showing improvement each time she has step up in trip, and could be a horse for the future.

 

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