Kiwis get another shot at a trans-Tasman Classic double through Leica Lucy
Willydoit came up short in his quest to become just the third horse to complete the New Zealand Derby/ATC Australian Derby double, but the Kiwis get another shot at a trans-Tasman Classic double this weekend.
Leica Lucy, who notched a fifth-straight win in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 22, will represent the Kiwis in Saturday's $1 million Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks at Randwick.
The daughter of Derryn is now an Australian resident, having been transferred to champion trainer Chris Waller, but her work to date was carried out under the tutelage of New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson.
She will be striving to emulate Domino (1990), Bonneval (2017) and Pennyweka (2023) as those to complete the NZ/ATC Oaks double.
The Kiwi girls can at least be a little more boastful than their male counterparts since the Derby and Oaks moved to autumn in 2006, mind you, with their two wins – and one second placing, Boundless (2008) – coming from just eight runners.
Eleven NZ Derby runners have contested the ATC Derby in that time with Mongolian Khan not only the sole winner, but the only to place.
Leica Lucy won her NZ Oaks in a Racing And Sports rating of 105, which is the same NZ Oaks rating as Boundless and three pounds up on Pennyweka, but five pounds inferior to Bonnevall, who rose to 119 at Randwick.
Leica Lucy might have to elevate to that sort of area to challenge star Victorian filly Treasurethe Moment, who is chasing an eighth-straight win in the ATC Oaks.
Matt Laurie's daughter of Alabama Express ran 115 in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) last start, having run the same figure the start prior in the Group 2 Kewney Stakes (1600m).
Treasurethe Moment ran 110 to win the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington last spring.
Oddly, though, more NZ Oaks winners appear on the ATC Oaks honour roll this century than VRC Oaks winners.
Eleven have done the VRC/ATC Oaks double since the Sydney feature stretched out to around its current distance in 1956, but Serenade Rose is the only one in the 2000s.
Only nine of the 24 VRC Oaks winners have run in the Sydney equivalent, however, Zardozi last year joining Dear Demi and Faint Perfume as those to run second, while Lasquieti Spirit is the only other placegetter.
Only four of those nine started favourite – Serenade Rose ($1.55), Faint Perfume ($2.30), Jameka ($3.20) and Hollow Bullet ($3.60) – but Serenade Rose was the only one shorter than the $1.70 that Treasurethe Moment was on Thursday afternoon.
Eight favourites have won the ATC Oaks this century, but Serenade Rose is one of only two at odds-on, the other being $1.40 chance Streama in 2012.
