03 May 2018 | Ken Casellas
Champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr declared that Liberty Rose was extremely gallant in defeat last week and said that her half-length second to Detroit Lily clearly stamped her as the filly to beat in the $150,000 Gannon’s WA Oaks at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“I thought that her effort last week was simply a be-on-me-next run performance,” he said. “I thought that she stamped herself as the one to beat in the Oaks.
“I’m very happy that she drew the No. 1 barrier. I wanted to draw inside the fillies I considered to be the main dangers. We’ve done that now, drawn inside them all and the plan is to lead, so I’ll be coming out all guns blazing, even though it is a 2536m race.
“I don’t think that there is a filly on the front line who can take her on early and then expect to be in the finish.”
The New Zealand-bred Liberty Rose, a comparative bargain buy at $40,000, is prepared by Hall of Fame trainer Gary Hall Snr, who has prepared only one winner of the WA Oaks, Miss Holmes, who was the 5/2 favourite when Hall Jnr drove her to victory over Hindu Sitara and Vinnies Sister in 2004. Hall Jnr also won the 2015 Oaks with Major Reality.
In an Oaks prelude over 2130m last Friday night, Liberty Rose began speedily from barrier five and raced three wide in the early stages before getting to the front after 550m. She set a brisk pace, with the quarters of the final mile in 29.5sec., 29.4sec., 28.2sec. and 28.5sec.
The Skye Bond-trained filly Detroit Lily started from the outside (barrier three) on the back line and enjoyed a perfect trail, one-out and two-back in fifth position before getting to a narrow lead 300m from home. Liberty Rose refused to give in and she and Detroit Lily fought out a spirited duel in the home straight, with Detroit Lily prevailing by a half-length at a 1.55.8 rate.
“Yes, I’m impressed with Detroit Lily, but with the run she had last week she was entitled to beat Liberty Rose a lot easier than she did,” said Hall Jnr “Liberty Rose didn’t give in and she had every right to. If this week’s classic was over 2130m I would just declare Liberty Rose. I think that the 2536m, not that it won’t suit Liberty Rose, will bring others into calculations. However, I considered that before the draw that if Liberty Rose was the one to beat, she certainly is now.”
Hall said that even though Liberty Rose, from the No. 1 barrier, was crossed by the speedy Havarti two starts ago, that he was not particularly concerned that any other filly had the speed to cross to the front on Friday night.
“We were not really crossed by Havarti,” Hall said. “I grabbed up Liberty Rose and then was able to get to the front (about 350m after the start).”
Hall said that he had plenty of respect for the opposition and was wary of Victorian invader Soho Burning Love, who will start from the No. 2 barrier on the back line with her Victorian trainer Michael Stanley in the sulky.
“I know we haven’t seen Liberty Rose matched against Soho Burning Love,” Hall said. “I’ve watched her races and I give her a chance but I would think that if Liberty Rose has a comfortable lead time and enjoys normal racing luck, then Soho Burning Love will be hard-pressed to beat her.”
Soho Burning Love has raced keenly this season, with her 13 starts as a three-year-old producing five wins, seven seconds and one third. She finished second to Shez All Rock in the New South Wales Oaks at Menangle in late February and ran home solidly when third behind Shez All Rock and Speak No Evil in the Victoria Oaks at Melton last Friday night.
Her maternal great granddam Lombo Adreamin won the Queensland Oaks at Albion Park in June 1999 and was retired with earnings of $337,575 from 29 wins and 26 placings from 79 starts.
Skye Bond and reinsman Ryan Warwick will be hoping that the No. 5 barrier will prove to be a lucky omen for Detroit Lily. Dodolicious, prepared by Greg and Skye Bond and driven by Warwick, started from barrier five when she raced three wide early and then in the breeze before winning the 2016 WA Oaks from Bettor Boa and Dame Puissant. Greg Bond prepared Millwood Meg when Colin Brown drove her to an easy victory in the 2010 Oaks.
The fortunes of Detroit Lily, who will be aiming to complete a winning hat-trick, will be watched with great anticipation by some astute punters, who supported the filly at 100/1 and 50/1 a few weeks ago. One keen judge will be hoping to collect wagers of $10,000 to $100 and $2500 to $50.
Our Angel of Harlem remains a strong fancy for the Oaks. She has been given a solid preparation by Henley Brook trainer Mike Reed, who has won the WA Oaks a record four times with Pharosan (2000), Sheer Royalty (2009), Libertybelle Midfrew (2014) and Maczaffair (2017).
Our Angel of Harlem will start from the inside of the back line and reinsman Shannon Suvaljko gives her an excellent winning chance.
“She is ideally suited over 2536m and from her draw should be able to obtain a good run behind the likely pacemaker Liberty Rose,” Suvaljko said. “The last time she raced over 2536m, she won. And if she relaxes and gets the right run she will be very capable of winning.”
Suvaljko has a good record in the Oaks, with wins behind Libertybelle Midfrew and Maczaffair.
Nathan Turvey will handle the talented Cott Beach for Coolup trainer Kristy Elson and the winner of 11 races and $217,976 is capable of causing an upset from the outside of the back line. Cott Beach was most impressive two starts ago when she thundered home from tenth at the bell to finish a desperately close third in a three-way photo finish behind King of Swing and Bechers Brook in the 2536m WA Derby.
Boyanup trainer-reinsman Justin Prentice, who prepared the quinella of Major Reality and Quite A Delight three years ago, will be represented by outsider Our Major Mama.
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