DR SUSAN Photo by Ashlea Brennan
STAR filly Dr Susan is on target to join an elite sorority at Club Menangle next weekend.
An easy winner of her New South Wales Oaks heat at the same venue last night, Dr Susan is aiming to become only the eighth to capture the ‘big two’ – Victoria and New South Wales Oaks.
The Blue Ribands have been conducted simultaneously since the latter’s addition to the calendar in 1956.
That was the same year super filly Argent etched her name into the record books by winning both classics.
In a feat never seen again, Argent also upstaged the ‘boys’ in the Victoria and New South Wales Derbys!
The seven sorority sisters include Richmond Lass which won both Oaks in 1967, followed by Bonnie Frost in ’70, Toliver Gigi in ’79, Gloomy Lass in ’81, Jane Ellen in ’89 and Shez All Rock in 2018.
Co-trained by Cran Dalgety and Nathan Purdon, Dr Susan completed the first part of the equation in Melton on January 25.
Driven by Anthony Butt in the Victorian feature, Dr Susan was once again partnered by the champion reinsman during her qualifier.
Caught three-wide from barrier eight, the daughter of Bettors Delight worked forward to find the front as Miss Ruby Sunshine was eased to take a trail.
Striding clear of the pack at the top of the home straight, Dr Susan was untouched to score by eight metres from Keep Rockin, with Jenden Strike a metre-and-a-half away third.
“I’m rapt with the way she went,” Dalgety said. “She is in a good zone, which she will need to be in come next week.
“We won’t change anything during the week just keep her happy and ticking along for the big one.”
Rating 1:55.8 over 2400 metres, Dr Susan’s time was two seconds slower than Stylish Memphis in the previous heat.
With Mark Purdon holding the reins for co-trainers Mark Jones and Brendon Hill¸ Stylish Memphis accounted for Michelle Le Mac and Amelia Rose.
Victorian raider Maajida rounded out the heats when she beat Its Beaujolais and Our Antonio Rose in 1:57.5.
Trained by Emma Stewart and driven by Greg Sugars, the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere stretched her record to an impeccable 10 wins and a seconds from 12 starts.
