Kirramosa Wins Thrilling Oaks

Thursday, 07 November 2013 05:38

The Crown Oaks at Flemington today produced a thrilling finish with inches between the first three placegetters, Kirramosa, Zanbagh and Solicit.

And connections of Zanbagh seriously considered throwing in a protest before giving up on the idea.

Triple dead heat coming up?

Glen Boss on Solicit set a nice even pace in front which allowed him to dictate the race until well into the straight. Blake Shinn on Zanbagh tracked him all the way and sent the little filly out to challenge at the 400 metre mark.

As she did on Saturday, Kirramosa, with Nash Rawiller replacing Tom Berry came from off the pace to chime in at the 200 metres and brushed with Zanbagh as she went to the lead.

Kirramosa (outside) wins from Zanbagh (middle) and Solicit

Zanbagh's trainer Guy Walter viewed the stewards patrol video before deciding against a protest.

"We did brush and there was a bit of interference", Walter said.

"But we had plenty of opportunity to come back at the winner and we couldn't beat her so I don't think it made any difference to the result."

Nash Rawiller & John Sargent

Winning trainer John Sargent said:

"We needed every yard of it (Flemington straight) but the way she won today was very good."

"The inside horse was coming back strong but it was very good riding from Nash, he judged it perfectly."

Kirramosa and Crown Oaks rug

"She probably got headed inside the 150 metres but really fought hard", Rawiller said.

Sargent expected that Kirramosa would be back last as she was in the Wakeful Stakes on Saturday but Rawiller had other ideas, settling midfield.

"She was a bit further forward than I thought she would be but she jumped well so he just put her up there and put her to sleep but the big question today was whether she'd back up."

Rawiller explained:

"She is very brave, very tough and I rode her a little bit against her normal racing pattern although she was able to win her maiden sitting up on the speed."

"I jumped really well and I had a look across and there was no urgency from anyone so just tried to get her into a rhythm and rode her from there and the best stayer has won."

Crown Oaks placegetters

Sargent who has recently set up permanently in Sydney after moving from New Zealand, was thrilled that Alamosa, the sire of Kirramosa had produced a Group 1 winner.

"It's good to get a win for Alamosa because he's the leading two-year-old sire in New Zealand and one of the owners owns Alamosa so it's a fantastic result for the whole (New Zealand) industry."

Kirramosa's Spring mission accomplished Sargent is planning for 2014.

"There's not a lot of her, she's only a light filly but she's got a very good constitution and a great temperament", he said.

"We'll just put her aside now for six weeks and we'll probably target Sydney in the autumn."

Photos: Quentin Lang