Scarlett Lady gave boom New Zealand apprentice James McDonald his first Group One win in Australia when she came with a barnstorming finish to claim the Queensland Oaks on Saturday.
The Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained filly started favourite in the 2400m Classic at Eagle Farm on the strength of her impressive win in the Group Three Doomben Roses (2020m) at her Australian debut last month.
And she didn’t let her legion of supporters down, sweeping down the outside in the straight to win running away from Becerra and Shez Sinsational.
In the process she gave her sire Savabeel, who Graeme Rogerson prepared to win the 2004 Cox Plate, his first Group One winner.
The win was Scarlett Lady’s sixth from 10 starts and took her prizemoney past $450,000.
“It was fantastic, it’s Savabeel’s first Group One win,” Debbie Rogerson said.
The co-trainer was full of praise for McDonald.
“He’s very good, it was a ten out of ten ride,” she said.
“He knows she’s got a massive turn of foot and he rode her to perfection.
“She’s just a lovely, lovely filly.”
AAP TURF
