Trainer Gerald Ryan has Queensland Oaks ambitions for talented filly Angel Of Mercy who booked her passage north with a determined win in Saturday’s Listed James HB Carr Stakes at Randwick.
Ryan had originally hoped to start Angel Of Mercy in some of the middle distance fillies races during the Sydney autumn but a setback following her Melbourne campaign put that on the backburner.
“She bruised her foot after she ran (in the Kewney Stakes) at Flemington and had to have about ten days off,” Ryan said.
“I was hoping to run her in one of the 2000-metre races during our carnival but she didn’t get there.
“I’d like her to have a crack towards the Oaks now.
“I’ve been training her to run over ground.”
Ryan almost sent Angel Of Mercy to Brisbane this week but pulled the pin on Tuesday when he saw the forecast for rain.
It was a good move as Saturday’s Eagle Farm meeting was washed out.
Ridden by Craig Williams, who jets off on Monday for a three-month stint in Japan, Angel Of Mercy ($7) settled on the back of the speed in Saturday’s 1400m race before angling into clear running in the straight.
She set out after leader Bound To Blush ($6.50), nabbing her in the final strides to score by a neck with favourite Hallowell Belle ($2.50) another 1-1/4 lengths away third.
Ryan said Angel Of Mercy was likely to back up in the Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) next weekend ahead of a winter carnival campaign.
