Star; Natalie Rasmussen produced another brilliant tactical drive to win the Gr.1 $100,000 Queensland Oaks at Albion Park
Outstanding New Zealand three-year-old filly Fight For Glory claimed more than just another big race victory with her success in tonight’s (Saturday) Gr.1 $100,000 Greg & Sharon Mitchell Queensland Oaks at Albion Park.
It now appears a foregone conclusion that the Mark Purdon/Natalie Rasmussen prepared talent will be crowned as the Australian filly of the year following her fourth Oaks success this season.
Fight For Glory proved too classy defeating Victorian filly and last start Vicbred Super Series champion Morton Plains while New South Wales filly Ameretto came from near last to grab third in the 2138m event.
The Art Major – Breath Of Life filly has won the New Zealand, New South Wales, Gold Coast and Queensland Oaks features.
On each occasion, Rasmussen has handled the filly.
And her winning drive tonight was inch perfect.
After starting from a second-line draw, Fight For Glory settled into a handy trailing draw and ended up sitting one out/one back when Bettor Promise pulled three-wide with a lap to run.
Miss Riviera Belle led the way while Linda Lovegrace, a stablemate of Fight For Glory, sat without cover.
With Linda Lovegrace racing to the lead off the back straight, Fight For Glory forced clear of a pocket and quickly raced to the lead at the home turn before going on to score comfortably.
“She’s a good little girl and her speed is her best asset; I was happy to be following Linda Lovegrace in the run and once I got clear in plenty of time, she was always in control. It’s great all of her owners made the trip over from New Zealand to cheer her home.” Rasmussen said.
Fight For Glory rated a race record time of 1;56.2 with the final half covered in 56.1 seconds.
It was the second win in the Queensland Oaks for the Purdon/Rasmussen partnership following the success of O Baby in 2012.
The Gr.2 $50,000 Gurney Group of Companies 4 & 5yo Championship was taken out by local pacer Chevals Clivesdale and Brad Cowen who came from near last with a well-timed finish to beat Shannonsablast and Majestic Major in the 2138m feature.
Race favourite Bling It On raced fiercely after leading but compounded badly over the concluding stages to finish at the rear of the field.
Chevals Clivesdale is prepared by Shannon Price and Scott Miller.
Brilliant Victorian three-year-old Menin Gate led throughout to claim the Gr.3 $40,000 Mr Feelgood Gold Coast Derby defeating Spare Me Days and My Kiwi Mate in race record time.
Fresh from his success last week in the Vicbred Super Series Final at Melton, the Larry Eastman trained and Chris Alford driven star proved too good rating 1;55.1 for the 2138m feature event.
The Somebeachsomewhere gelding ran his final mile in 1;54.2 while covering his final half in 54.7 seconds.
Menin Gate looms as the horse to beat in next week’s Gr.1 $150,000 Queensland Derby.
Classy mare Forever Gold claimed her fourth straight victory in the Gr.3 $30,000 Burwood Stud Fleur De Lil Ladyship Stakes defeating Sweet Molly Oshea and Millwood Liberty in a time of 1;53.5.
Handled by Natalie Rasmussen for the first time, the Famous Forever seven-year-old led throughout in the sprint feature.
Forever Gold is raced by her breeders Murray Cole and Beau Watson while prepared by Darren Weeks.
Former New Zealand gelding Nureyev scored his biggest victory on Australian soil when successful in the $20,000 Lunchbox Lodge Country Cup Final defeating Epaulette and Floyd Mayweather.
Prepared by Chantal Turpin and handled by her husband Pete McMullen, the Christian Cullen gelding was aided by a solid speed before sprinting too well for his rivals over the concluding stages.
Nureyev rated 1;55.3 for the 2138m feature.
And emerging talent Major Coup broke through for his first success this campaign with a solid front-running victory in the $20,000 Rising Stars Championship Final.
The Art Major – Attracts Attention three-year-old gelding held off the challenge from a game Girl With Fire while Cougar Oriely held third in a time of 1;54.1.
Trained by Wayne Graham and driven by his son Shane, Major Coup is raced by his breeder Terry Flynn.
The Albion Park winter carnival comes to a climax next week with the running of four Group One features including the Blacks A Fake, Queensland Derby and the QBRED Triad 2yo Finals.
