Sydney filly Angel Of Mercy has stamped herself a genuine contender for next month’s Group One Queensland Oaks with a dominant victory at Doomben.
Angel Of Mercy ($1.85 fav) made a long run 600 metres from home to easily account for Lake George ($15) by 1-1/4 lengths in Saturday’s Channel Seven Benchmark 90 Handicap (1600m).
Telesto Warrior ($4.80) was a further short head away third.
Trainer Gerald Ryan scratched the daughter of Hussonet from last week’s Listed Gold Coast Bracelet because of the heavy track but was not concerned missing the race would upset her Queensland Oaks mission.
Ryan now plans to back the filly up in next Saturday’s Group Three The Roses (2000m) at Doomben in her final lead-up to the Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 2.
“I’ve had a good opinion of this filly for a very long time,” Ryan said.
“Some say I’ve been pushing this filly to get her to the Oaks but missing last week’s race was never a worry.
“She’s been trained to run a distance ever since she was in Melbourne and if she was going to measure up to the Oaks she had to win like she did.”
Angel Of Mercy’s win gave Sydney jockey Corey Brown a win with his first ride for the Brisbane winter carnival.
Brown has no doubt Angel Of Mercy, who has now won three of her nine starts, will benefit greatly from her Queensland debut.
“She took her time to get going but once she was comfortable it was all over,” Brown said.
AAP TURF gm
