Bookmakers have been swift to react to Ambience’s Listed win at Randwick with the Godolphin filly firming to second favourite for the VRC Oaks.
The Street Cry half-sister to retired champion Pierro, Ambience staked her Classic claims when she powered home from out of the pack to score a dominant victory in Saturday’s Dulcify Quality (1600m).
The second favourite at $3.60, Ambience put 2-1/2 lengths on Wudang Mountain ($3.40) with Land’s End ($10) another head third.
The TAB immediately adjusted her Oaks price to $9 from $26 but trainer John O’Shea said she would have to earn her way there.
“The Wakeful Stakes will probably be her next start and then we will see how she comes through that,” O’Shea said.
Sheikh Mohammed’s operation famously sold Pierro but will be holding on to Ambience who took her record to two wins and two placings from four starts.
“She started her career in a 1400-metre race and has always shown she would get up over a distance,” O’Shea said.
The trainers of the two placegetters both felt their horses didn’t run out the mile and the pair will be brought back in distance.
“I might bring him back in distance, put the blinkers on and ride him quiet,” Waller said of Wudang Mountain.
“He hasn’t learned what it’s all about yet.”
Gerald Ryan said Land’s End didn’t run the 1600m and blinkers would also be an option.
There will also be other options for the Noel Mayfield-Smith-trained Reckless Russell who missed his chance to compete when his float was delayed by an incident on the M2 motorway and he arrived late.
