Irishmen Thomas Carberry and John Allen combined for a remarkable result on Thursday, with lightly-raced filly Strictly Business taking out the VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington.
The $1 million Group 1 victory marked Carberry’s first success at the top level, and came at just the filly’s fourth career start.
Strictly Business had only broken her maiden at Ballarat 13 days earlier, but a fast-finishing second in last Saturday’s Wakeful Stakes (2000m) convinced Carberry to push on to the Oaks.
“We had this race in mind for a long time,” Carberry said.
“She missed a run at Geelong and we were on the back foot, but she came through Ballarat so well that we took our chance in the Wakeful. She looked like she needed 2500m — and that’s exactly what she showed today.”
The daughter of Grunt powered away late to score by 3-1/2 lengths, confirming herself as one of the breakout fillies of the spring.
Strictly Business ($7.50) defeated The Pearls ($8), providing Chris Waller with his first Oaks placing, while After Summer ($31) finished a neck away in third.
Getta Good Feeling ($1.80 fav), who defeated Strictly Business in the Wakeful, travelled midfield and loomed on the turn but tired over the final stages, finishing sixth.
For John Allen — a neighbour of Carberry’s in Ballarat — the win was especially meaningful.
“What a training performance,” Allen said.
“He trains ten horses, rides them all out himself. To get this filly from a maiden win to an Oaks winner in under two weeks is unbelievable.”
The result capped a huge week for Ballarat-based stables, following the Melbourne Cup success of the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Half Yours.