by Ken Casellas
Superbly-bred filly Pick My Pocket arrived in Perth from New Zealand three weeks ago and is being set by owner Bob Fowler and trainer-reinsman Justin Prentice for the $150,000 WA Oaks on May 5.
The daughter of champion sire Bettors Delight will make her West Australian debut when she starts from the No. 5 barrier on the front line in the Happy Birthday Tanya Smeeth WA Oaks Prelude over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Prentice is unsure how well Pick My Pocket will perform at her first appearance in a race in Australia. “I have had her only a short time,” he said. “She’s a nice filly and I’ve had only one trial with her.”
Pick My Pocket was not extended in finishing second to Jumping At Shadows in a 2100m trial at Bunbury’s Donaldson Park on Wednesday of last week. The winner rated 1.58.8 and the final quarters were run in 29.5sec. and 28.5sec.
Pick My Pocket is out of In The Pocket mare La Filou, who raced only eight times in New Zealand for one win and one placings for stakes of $7315. La Filou is out of the remarkable broodmare Scuse Me, the dam of 12 winners, including Adore Me and Have Faith In Me.
Adore Me raced only 36 times for 26 wins and seven placings for earnings of $1,677,032. She was successful in 12 group 1 events, including the New Zealand Cup at Addington in November 2014 and the Ladyship Mile in 1.47.7 and by a margin of six lengths at Menangle in March 2015.
Have Faith In Me has had 32 starts for 15 wins, eight placings and $1,446,592. His five group 1 wins include the Chariots of Fire at Menangle in February 2016 and the Miracle Mile in 1.47.5 when he defeated Lennytheshark.
Pick My Pocket has had five starts in New Zealand for one win and a third placing, for earnings of $12,735. She won on debut over 2400m in a 14-horse field at Winton last December when she began speedily from barrier five and led after 250m before being restrained 300m later to trail the new pacemaker. She then raced three back on the pegs and took advantage of an inside passage to hit the front 120m from the post to win at a 1.58.2 rate.
Her most recent appearance was at Addington on February 17 when she started from the outside in a field of five and was restrained to the rear and raced in fifth place in an Indian-file affair before fighting on gamely, three wide, to be fourth behind Spanish Armada, who dashed over the final two quarters in 28.5sec. and 27sec.
The New Zealand-bred Maczaffair looks outstanding in Friday night’s race, especially after drawing the prized No. 1 barrier on the front line. Maczaffair has won at eight of her 19 starts and is maintaining her splendid form for Henley Brook trainer Mike Reed and reinsman Shannon Suvaljko.
Apart from Pick My Pocket, Prentice has two other runners in Friday night’s race, Im Stylish (Tom Buchanan) and Lady Luca (Hayden Charles). Im Stylish has won at each of her past three starts, but is poorly drawn out wide at barrier eight. However, she is capable of doing plenty of work in a race and is sure to be prominent.
In an Oaks prelude last Friday week, Im Stylish started from the back line and began a three-wide move after 450m to race without cover for much of the way before taking the lead 270m from home and defeating the fast-finishing Red Hot Roxy, who had enjoyed an ideal passage behind the pacemaker Lady Luca.
The consistent Red Hot Roxy (Gary Hall jun.) will start from the outside of the back line this week and should be finishing with plenty of gusto. Soho Angel (Kim Prentice) will start from the inside of the back line and is also capable of a spirited effort.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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