Flight Stakes Results: Oohood Wins, On to Caulfield Guineas

After three placings prior, Tony McEvoy trained Oohood has finally achieved maiden Group 1 glory, claiming a win in the Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

In typical fashion, the three-year old was involved in another nail-biting finish, this time coming out on top by a nose against Fiesta and Nakeeta Jane on the finish line.

Oohood, far left, finally captured Group 1 glory in the Flight Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Entering at $12.30 odds with Ladbrokes, Oohood seemingly stood a slim chance with Miss Fabulass in the field. Jockey Tim Clark was caught deep around the 1,000 meter mark, but while all eyes were on the favourite, Oohood entered the frame late to win by a nose in a photo finish.

“It’s obviously very exciting, she come so close as a two-year old in the Slippers and Sires,” Clark said following the win.

“She’s been running well, just rode her a bit quieter today, it was a bit messy, wasn’t a lot of tempo, there was a fair bit going on in front of me, actually thought the furlong I wasn’t going to pick the leaders up as I did.”

Having won this same race two year’s prior on Global Glamour, Clark was the perfect ride for Oohood on Saturday. The three-year old has grossed over $1 million without winning a race in nine career starts, but after featuring in so many close finishes, she was always destined for a win sooner or alter.

“Coming up the straight I thought, oh know, not another close finish, not another beaten in a photo again, thank god she put her nose out for us” trainer Tony McEvoy said.

With so many good horses chasing, McEvoy always felt confident in Oohood’s chances after showing so much promise in the paddock.

“When I got up here on Tuesday to see her have a gallop I thought this is going to be her best run, which it needed to be, very, very exciting”.

It’s likely the now Group 1 winner will bump into Miss Fabulass in a fortnight’s time at the $2 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m), a race McEvoy is also feeling very confident about.

“We’ll go and run in the Caulfield Guineas, and take on the boys. She was better than all the colts in her two-year old days, even though she didn’t win, she beat all the colt’s home.”

Oohood has firmed into $17.00 on the third line of betting. Full Caulfield Guineas odds can also be seen below.