Kevin Gray has no doubt that favourite High Fashion can stay the 2400m of the New Zealand Oaks at Trentham and give him his third Oaks victory.
The New Zealand Oaks has a slightly disappointing look to it as it is missing the country’s best fillies Habibi and Fix after they ran first and second in the New Zealand Derby on March 2.
In their absence, High Fashion is the warm $2.70 favourite for Saturday’s race after her three length victory in the Group Three Lowland Stakes at Hastings on March 2.
“She has only had the one try over ground (when she won the Lowland) and it never worried her. The Oaks is only another 300 metres and I could run that,” Gray told NZ Thoroughbred Marketing.
Gray has already won the New Zealand Oaks once, saddling up Legs to win in 2006.
The trainer also won the AJC Australian Oaks in 2009 with Daffodil after she was an unlucky fourth in the New Zealand version.
“Daffodil probably had a bit more gate speed than this filly, but they have all had great natures and I would rate them on a par.”
More Than Sacred starts second favourite after winning the Group Three Sunline Vase with a staying effort at Ellerslie on March 6, while the only other runner in single figures is Chandelier at $9.
Fix’s absence means Soriano has a chance of winning the Filly of the Year series if she wins the Oaks but she is ranked only a $10 chance after running 10th in the Derby.
