Boom filly Our Angel Of Harlem is poised to deliver trainer Mike Reed back-to-back WA Oaks successes at Gloucester Park tomorrow night, despite her unplaced run in the WA Oaks Prelude last week.
Reed said the filly was back to her best after last week’s underwhelming performance, and was confident she would be able to make her presence felt from the inside of the second row.
“I think everyone is knocking her on last start, which it was disappointing on face value,” Reed told TABradio’s The Sports Daily.
“I’ve excused her for that.
“On Tuesday morning she worked the best she’s ever worked, so she’s back and she will be fighting out the finish.
“She will run a great race.”
The Paradise City filly will be having her sixth start for her campaign on Friday night, and will once again be driven by Shannon Suvaljko.
Her best performance in Perth came three starts back on April 13, when she won a WA Oaks Prelude.
However, Friday night’s Group 1 event sees the fillies step up to 2536m for the first time, up from the 2130m the Preludes have been run over.
Reed said the longer trip would suit Our Angel Of Harlem on Friday night, where he expected Suvaljko to sit on the back of favourite Liberty Rose.
“Liberty Rose is going to be hard to beat,” he said.
“I’m hoping to be behind the leader.
“I think if we get clear down the back straight it will take a good horse to hold her out.”
Meanwhile, last year’s Oaks winner Maczaffair makes her return to racing tomorrow night in the Laurie Kennedy Race For Roses Mares Handicap (2503m).
Maczaffair showed her Group 1 class last campaign, with a second placing in the Golden Nugget, before she put together four wins in a row culminating in the final of the Im Themightyquinn Final on January 27.
It will be Maczaffair’s first attempt at the standing start, where she is off the 30m, but Reed said he still had plenty of confidence the mare would be able to make her presence felt.
“This campaign she has been working well,” he said.
“Whatever she does tomorrow she will improve on.
“As long as there is a bit of speed in it, she will be right in the finish.”
The WA Oaks will be run at 7.40 tomorrow night, with the meeting getting underway at 5.10pm.
