Canberra trained filly Single Gaze scores an upset win in the Group 1 $500,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill today.

Single Gaze scores an upset win in the Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Single Gaze ($12) was able to provide trainer Nick Oliver with his first Group 1 win when Kathy O’Hara brought the filly down the centre of the track to beat Kiwi filly Valley Girl ($9.50) by three quarters of a length with Happy Hannah ($7.50) running on strongly for third.

$3.50 favourite Risque race just off the paace but faded in the straight to finish in eighth position.

O’Hara settled Single Gaze just behind the leaders and eased her into the clear at the top of the straight and gave her an uninterrupted run to the line.

O’Hara has been the regular rider for Single Gaze at her last three starts and Olive was adamant that she would ride the Not A Single Doubt filly today.

“I pulled rank before the Magic Millions three year old and told them that Kathy is going back on and staying on,” Olive said.

“I am sick of chopping and changing.”

“And when you go back through her previous campaign, the only time Kathy rides, she has never run a bad race. She has got such an affinity with her.”

“I am so happy for Kath. I have won nine stakes races now and Kathy has won seven of them, for me.”

Single Gaze made it two wins on the trot after taking out the Group 3 $200,000 Arrowfield Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) at Kembla Grange on March 11.

Runner up Valley Girl ran a promising race at her first run on Australian soil and is on track to run in the Group 1 $1m James Boags Premium Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 9, the second day of ‘The Championships’.

Third placegetter Happy Hannah also ran a nice race heading towards the Australian Oaks.

 Vinery Stud Stakes Results