Horse Racing

Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse is the place to be this Saturday as the coveted Doncaster Mile meeting takes place featuring three Group 1 events including the $350,000 AJC Australian Oaks (2400m).

The testing staying feature has attracted a 12-horse final field of three-year-old fillies, headlined by the two top placegetters in the Group 1 Storm Queen Stakes (2000m) a fortnight ago, Faint Perfume and Valdemoro.

The Bart Cummings-trained Faint Perfume narrowly defeated Tony Vasil’s Valdemoro in the Storm Queen after coming from well back with an impressive late burst.

And if Cummings’ talented daughter of Shamardal is to secure a second Oaks classic win to add to her VRC Oaks (2500m) victory at Flemington last spring, she may well have to fight from behind again after drawing out wide in barrier 11.

Drawn in the far outside barrier 12, Valdemoro, who was also runner-up to Faint Perfume in the VRC Oaks, will have to work hard on Saturday as well if she is to turn the tables on Faint Perfume and atone for her two frustrating second placings.

Fillies that have fared better in the barrier draw include Peter Moody’s talented duo Speedy Natalie and Ocean Dream, the stablemates jumping from beside each other in barriers two and three respectively.

Speedy Natalie claimed a powerful win last start in the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) and is due to be ridden by Luke Nolen on Saturday, while improving Redoute’s Choice filly Ocean Dream is coming off a sixth place in the Storm Queen.

The two other Group 1 races to be held at Randwick on Saturday are the marquee race, the $1.5 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) and the $300,000 The Galaxy (1100m).

For more details and news updates on the 2010 AJC Australian Oaks click on the race name.

Final Field & Barrier Draw for 2010 AJC Oaks