PHILIA IS FLYING INTO THE OAKS

A second successive Stakes win in the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) saw PHILIA firm into favouritism for the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) in a fortnight’s time, when the blueblood filly will aim to emulate the feats of her half-sister Duais.

The daughter of All Too Hard backed up her win in the Listed Princess Stakes with another dominant display on Doomben Cup Day, and the way she saw out the 2000m trip would suggest that the 2200m of the Oaks should present no problems.  

Three years ago, GYPSY GODDESS justified favouritism in the Oaks so we’re hoping lightning can strike twice with PHILIA, who carried her career earnings to the brink of $350,000 after extending her picket fence with a fourth consecutive triumph. 

The filly showed her customary gate speed to take command of the race from the outset, and once Kerrin McEvoy had asked her for the ultimate effort in the home straight, she duly responded to fend off her rivals and prevail by a half-a-length.

“I knew she was 100 per cent going into today,” said David.  

“The 2000 (metres) was a question mark, but Kerrin made it a staying test. He was taken on two or three times and he didn’t care, he just wanted to hold the front.

“When I saw her going past the post the first time, he was letting her roll. She had to sprint a few times during the race and yet she still had the audacity to kick at the top of the straight and hold off the late charge.

“She’s got that amazing racing pattern where she can get taken on and absorb pressure, and she loves it. She’s just full of guts, and wants to do it. That was a month between runs so now we’ve got that nice two weeks into the Oaks, bring it on.”

McEvoy now has two wins from his two steers on the homebred filly, and the ultra-experienced hoop will bid to preserve their unbeaten record in the feature at Eagle Farm on Saturday, 7 June.

“Dave has had a big opinion of her, and I was quite taken and interested in his words prior to the race,” said McEvoy. 

“His text this morning was that she had improved again, so it gave me good confidence going into today. She was more relaxed in herself today, which is pleasing when you are going up in trip.

“I just wanted to kick off the corner, which she did. She had a bit of a stargaze on the corner and she was looking at the barriers and thinking ‘job done’, so I had to get a bit vocal with her.

“But she’s definitely heading in the right direction. She’s bred to run the Oaks distance, and I think she will.” 

Many congratulations to the Harris family and to Matthew Irwin, who bred the filly. 

COME RACE WITH US