The Australian Oaks looks to be calling for Mick Price’s impressive all-the-way Vinery Stud Stakes 2018 winning filly on Tancred Stakes Day Hiyaam.

Hiyaam is onto the 2018 ATC Oaks after a brilliant all-the-way win in the Vinery Stud Stakes on Tancred Stakes Day at Rosehill. Photo: Steve Hart.
Second-up after the strong third in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) against the boys on March 17 at the Rosehill Gardens track, the well-bred daughter of High Chaparral was too good for the fillies in this year’s Group 1 $500,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).
She turned the tables on her last start conqueror, Chris Waller’s Phar Lap Stakes winner Unforgotten the heavily backed favourite to win the Vinery before settling for second in the Group 1.
It was an incredible staying performance from Hiyaam, third in the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) in Melbourne during the spring, who had her jockey from that day Michael Dee back aboard.
Dee was full of confidence and in a brilliant ride, took Hiyaam straight into the lead from the inside barrier holding the front position from go to whoa.
“Credit to the filly. Last prep I was riding her a bit too pretty. Today there was no speed in the race so from the one pole we just elected to roll forward and dictate terms. She was way too good in the end,” Dee said post-win.
Hiyaam was the clear cut leader throughout, left alone in charge as the Kiwi filly Danzdanzdance raced around in second wide on the outside of the Lindsay Park-trained Rimraam.
The favourite Unforgotten was third last at the 750m with all the ground to make up, while the Arron Purcell-trained Thousand Guineas winner from last October Aloisia was also coving plenty of metres racing off the track throughout.
Into the straight, Dee went for home on Hiyaam who had four lengths to spare on the field before Unforgotten started to get into her work and really start to come at the 300m.
It was too little too late however and all honours went to Hiyaam ($13), the fourth straight double-figure Vinery Stud Stakes winner, thanks to the daring front-running ride from Dee who celebrated his third Group 1 success.
“This is right up there, it’s my third Group 1 now but that’s my favourite one winning for my old boss and master Mick Price. He’s given me a lot of support since I came over here so big thanks to him,” Dee said.
Unforgotten ($3.70) ran in second after getting too far back early, while Aloisia ($5) rounded out the Vinery Stud Stakes trifecta in an eye-catching third.
Hiyaam looks to have plenty of natural improvement heading into the Group 1 $1 million Australian Oaks (2400m) next-up at Royal Randwick on April 14 during ‘The Championships’.
“No worries at all [at the trip]. Even after the line. I was still humming down the side. Bring on the Oaks that is for sure. If she can get the run lead and run in the Oaks she will be hard to beat that is for sure,” Dee added.
The Vinery Stud Stakes winner firmed in from $15 to $9 in the all-in Australian Oaks odds at Ladbrokes.com.au, while Unforgotten has come in from $8 to $4 favourite and Aloisia $9 into $7.
To back Hiyaam next race and to access all the best ATC Oaks 2018 betting markets, visit Ladbrokes.com.au now.
2018 Vinery Stud Stakes Results & Finishing Order
Rosehill Race 7 – 31/03/2018
Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Weight | SP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9 | HIYAAM (NZ) | Mick Price | Michael Dee | – | 1 | 56kg | $12 |
2 | 7 | UNFORGOTTEN | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 1.8L | 8 | 56kg | $3.70F |
3 | 1 | ALOISIA (NZ) | Aaron Purcell | Mark Zahra | 4.1L | 13 | 56kg | $5 |
4 | 2 | ALIZEE | James Cummings | Brenton Avdulla | 5.3L | 9 | 56kg | $7 |
5 | 8 | DANZDANZDANCE | Chris Gibbs | Michael Walker | 6.8L | 5 | 56kg | $12 |
6 | 5 | TORVILL | Clarry Conners | Christian Reith | 7.9L | 11 | 56kg | $21 |
7 | 14 | MADAME MARKIEVICZ (NZ) | Anthony & Edward Cummings | Corey Brown | 8.2L | 6 | 56kg | $201 |
8 | 12 | SEMARI (NZ) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Craig Williams | 9.4L | 7 | 56kg | $10 |
9 | 13 | MISS ADMIRATION | Mick Price | Tim Clark | 10L | 4 | 56kg | $101 |
10 | 3 | BRING ME ROSES | Tony McEvoy | Luke Currie | 11L | 10 | 56kg | $9.50 |
11 | 6 | RIMRAAM (NZ) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Damien Oliver | 15L | 3 | 56kg | $16 |
12 | 11 | DANCERS | Brad Widdup | Jason Collett | 26.8L | 2 | 56kg | $26 |
13 | 10 | ALL TOO SOON | David Payne | Tye Angland | 31.6L | 12 | 56kg | $21 |
– | 4 | LUVALUVA (NZ) | John Sargent | Kerrin McEvoy | – | 0 | – | – |