Cambridge trainer Tony Pike realises his filly More Than Sacred has a potentially tough task to win the New Zealand Oaks despite her courageous Sunline Vase win at Ellerslie.
More Than Sacred booked herself a ticket in the 2400m Group One contest at Trentham on March 16 by winning the Group Three Sunline Vase (2100m) after being headed by Ray’s Girl in the straight.
But Pike realises her chances probably depend on whether Saturday’s New Zealand Derby winner Habibi runs in the Oaks.
“The Oaks is obviously going to be a lot stronger field. It’s hard to see Habibi being beaten off her Derby run,” Pike said.
“But today was D-Day – we haven’t paid the late nomination and she probably had to perform today to pay that and she’s done that, so if she pulls up well she’ll head to Wellington for the Oaks.”
More Than Sacred ran a similar race when third to Fix and Soriano in the Sir Tristram Classic at Te Rapa in February and she looks well suited to the 2400m at Trentham on a left-handed track.
“I hit a flat patch and to be honest she wasn’t that happy going this way round,” jockey Mark Du Plessis said.
“It’s the first time I’ve ridden her and I think she’ll see the Oaks trip no problem, and I think she’ll be better left-handed.”
Habibi’s co-trainer Dean Logan says no decision has been made on whether Habibi will contest the Oaks.
