Trainer Mark Newnham thinks Nakeeta Jane is well on her way to a start in April’s $1 million Australian Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick.
The three-year-old was impressive first-up at on Saturday storming down the straight to claim the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) in impressive fashion. Newnham now thinks his filly by So You Think can handle the distance beyond a mile, and has a clear path laid out for a return to Group 1 status.
Nakeeta Jane, ridden by winning jockey Josh Parr, is now the Australian Oaks favourite. Photo Credit: Steve Hart.
“I think she’ll get the trip, especially against three-year-old fillies” Newnham told RSN’s Racing Pulse when asked on Nakeeta Jane’s Oaks chances.
“This time next year I think she might be best a mile to 2000m, I think at an Oaks and against her own age and sex she’ll be capable.”
Saturday’s win marked the second in just four starts for the lightly raced filly. It was no doubt an eye-catching win as Nakeeta Jane switched into gear over the final furlong to race past $14.00 chance Madam Rouge and win at the line.
Nakeeta Jane, a $10.00 chance in the Light Fingers, will likely go around at a much shorter price when we see her in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) on March 2. After showing plenty of maturity on the track last week, Newnham knew she was a chance to win right before the race.
“A good gate enabled her to take up a good spot and travel well at that pace, which she wouldn’t have been able to do last preparation.
“She looked bigger and stronger than the opposition, she was nice and relaxed walking around cantered to the gates nicely” Newnham said.
Placed third in the Flight Stakes, her first and only Group 1 start last Spring, Nakeeta Jane wasn’t disgraced in a field comprising of Miss Fabulass, Fundementalist and Oohood. She’ll likely run into similar quality fillies in a fortnight’s time, but again, Newnham thinks a strong prep puts her in good stead.
“Just the manner in which she’s returned, she started the prep without ever having trialed before, and was very raw, whereas this preparation she came in, she knew what her job was, she advanced as much mentally as physically” Newnham went on to say.
Nakeeta Jane has firmed from $11.00 into $5.00 favourtism ahead of the Oaks. Full odds can be seen below.
