There were no surprises in the WA feature on the weekend with Adam Durrant’s flying filly Tick Tick Bloom saluting as the odds-on favourite in the Belmont Oaks 2014 at Belmont Park Racecourse.
In ace form over her career so far the three-year-old daughter of Viscount posted her fifth win at start number nine on Saturday with her victory in the $100,000 Listed Belmont Oaks (2000m).
Ridden by Perth’s No. 1 jockey William Pike once again, Tick Tick Bloom ($1.90) enjoyed her fourth straight win this time in at the track backing up from her tight victory in the Listed Belmont Guineas (1600m) from a fortnight again.
She didn’t have much to spare on the line again in the Oaks when stepped up in distance seeing the 2000m for the first time.
Handling the extra metres, Tick Tick Bloom settled 10th in the 13-filly field before storming home over the closing stages to turn the final stages into a tense two horse race.
In a display of grit however she hit the line a quarter length ahead of the Grant Williams-trained Star Of Husson ($8) who improved on her Belmont Guineas ninth when stepped back up to a more preferred distance.
Finishing off the Belmont Oaks trifecta then a further two and a half lengths away in third was Cliff Smith’s I’m Feeling Lucky ($16), the Bletchingly Park filly facing her first black-type field of rivals.
The Lark Hill-based Durrant could now look to keep the good times rolling for Tick Tick Bloom who has now amassed over $219,000 in prize money.
Next start there’s a chance she will add a third stakes victory to her record returning to Belmont for a shot at the $100,000 Listed Belmont Classic (2200m) facing another distance test as she looks to complete the Belmont Triple Crown.
All going well she will be spelled after the Classic and return at the end of the year for a shot at some of the better Perth Summer Racing Carnival races at Ascot Racecourse during her four-year-old season.
However after doing it tougher than expected in the Oaks, Durrant said he would wait to see how she came through the run before confirming Belmont Classic plans.
“We’ve always had a very high opinion of this filly,” he told The West Australian on Saturday.
“I must admit to expecting an easier win today.
“There seems a chance she’s beginning to feel the effects of having won at five of her past six starts.
“At this stage, she’s being aimed at the Belmont Classic. But the filly will start only if she’s not showing signs of training-off.”
The full Belmont Oaks 2014 results are detailed below.
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2014 Belmont Oaks Results & Finishing Order
Belmont Race 6 – 05/07/2014
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | TICK TICK BLOOM | Adam Durrant | William Pike | – | 8 | 55.5kg | $1.90 |
| 2 | 5 | STAR OF HUSSON | Grant Williams | Patrick Carbery | 0.25L | 9 | 55.5kg | $8 |
| 3 | 8 | I’M FEELING LUCKY | Cliff Smith | Shaun O’Donnell | 2.75L | 13 | 55.5kg | $16 |
| 4 | 4 | YALOGINDA | Daniel Morton | Jarrad Noske | 6L | 10 | 55.5kg | $51 |
| 5 | 3 | BUSIMISS | Fred Kersley | Peter Knuckey | 6L | 1 | 55.5kg | $71 |
| 6 | 1 | MIDNIGHT SHIMMER | Grant Williams | Glenn Smith | 6.5L | 6 | 55.5kg | $4.80 |
| 7 | 7 | DABANG | Shane Quilty | Brad Parnham | 7.5L | 3 | 55.5kg | $8.50 |
| 8 | 10 | PINOT REILLY (NZ) | Ross & Clint Price | Ben Paterson (a) | 9.25L | 11 | 55.5kg | $41 |
| 9 | 9 | ETERNAL SECRET | Chris Stelmach | Jason Whiting | 9.5L | 5 | 55.5kg | $31 |
| 10 | 12 | PARISIAN PROMISE | Stephen Miller | Shaun Meeres | 12.25L | 7 | 55.5kg | $101 |
| 11 | 11 | GRACIE MAY | Steve Wallace | Troy Turner | 14.5L | 12 | 55.5kg | $71 |
| 12 | 6 | DECREED | Fred Kersley | Steven Parnham | 20L | 4 | 55.5kg | $26 |
| 13 | 13 | HERECOMESTHESTORM | David Harrison | Chris Parnham (a) | 59L | 2 | 55.5kg | $151 |
