Kiwi raider chasing Oaks Goldrush

When first nominations for the Australian Oaks were taken in early February, the race wasn’t even a blip on Pam Gerard’s radar.

The Kiwi trainer knew she had a talented filly on her hands in subsequent New Zealand Oaks runner-up Dubai Goldrush, but at that point the three-year-old was yet to win a race.

“When the ‘noms’ were first put out she hadn’t even won a maiden so we never even thought about it,” Gerard said of a Sydney Oaks bid.

“But we knew she had a lot of ability there. We thought she may have been more a Brisbane type of filly but she improved so sharply and so quickly.

“They tell us in New Zealand that (New Zealand Oaks winner) Leica Lucy is pretty much a superstar and she gave it a pretty good fright. She has come through the race really well so we chucked in a late nomination and thought, we’ll have a go at Sydney.”

Dubai Goldrush arrived from New Zealand on Tuesday night after connections paid the $22,000 late entry fee to run.

By Pride Of Dubai, the same sire as Pride Of Jenni and Dubai Honour, the filly showed stamina to make a long run from back in the field and go down fighting when second to Leica Lucy in last month’s New Zealand Oaks (2400m).

Now with the Chris Waller stable, Leica Lucy is a $4.20 second favourite for Saturday’s classic at Randwick while Dubai Goldrush is a $17 chance and Gerard won’t be surprised if her charge can turn the tables.

“Leica Lucy had a pretty long season at home. We were there at Trentham when she beat us and she was out on her feet that day, she gave it everything and was so tough,” Gerard said.

“Whether she (Leica Lucy) can turn around and change stables and handle everything different go on with her and do it again, I’m not sure, I’m not involved with her. But if we can beat her I’ll be super happy.”

Whether Dubai Goldrush is capable of toppling odds-on favourite Treasurethe Moment, Gerard isn’t so sure.

Gerard has seen the Matt Laurie-trained star in the flesh at Randwick this week and been suitably impressed.

“She looks gorgeous and obviously she is one out of the box. If we can get close to her we’d be happy,” Gerard said.

While Dubai Goldrush is on her first venture to Sydney, Gerard is an experienced hand at travelling horses.

When in partnership with the late Mike Moroney, she had a near-miss in another three-year-old Sydney classic when Arrogant finished a close second to The Autumn Sun in the 2019 Rosehill Guineas.

As such, the task Dubai Goldrush faces isn’t lost on Gerard, but she is content will acquit herself well.

“Obviously, you’ve got some horrifically good ones here at the moment so it’s pretty scary,” she said.

“But if we can get out there and run a nice race and be thereabouts, she is only going to improve as a four-year-old.”