Broadways Best is one of the favourite for the Victoria Oaks
Saturday night’s Nevele R Stud Victoria Oaks is Broadways Best’s chance to prove to the harness racing world what all the fuss is about.
That’s the attitude Shannon McLean is taking into the $100,000 Group 1 event with one of the stars of his boutique Gisborne South stable.
The daughter of Village Jasper might have run second to champion colt Captain Joy in the Victoria Derby in February, but her only victories have come in restricted three-year-old races at Maryborough and Terang.
“If you look at her record on paper she’s had 11 starts and only won two races, so some people might say, ‘what’s the big deal about this horse?’,” McLean conceded.
“It would be nice to get a win on the board that would mean she gets that respect of everyone. It would be good to get the monkey off her back.”
Broadways Best booked her Oaks spot with a solid second to Ima Spicey Lombo in last week’s heat. She led but was run down by the star New South Wales raider in a 57.3-second final 800m.
That was just her first start since running third to Living On Fire and Coastal in the Caduceus Club Cup, two weeks after she beat home all bar Captain Joy in the Derby.
McLean anticipates Broadways Best, who will again be driven by Chris Alford this weekend, will derive great benefit from that outing.
“She came through it really well, she’s definitely gone forward, and should be improved by the run,” he said.
McLean’s confidence only rose when his speedy beginner landed barrier four for the 9.30pm final.
Ima Spicey Lombo will start outside the back row after being put out of the draw last week, while the first two home in the other heat, Queen Of Fire and Kissmecatie, will roll from gates 11 and nine respectively.
