Connections of Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Sentimental Miss are hoping rain is in the weather forecast for Sydney next month.

 

If the weather does play its part then the Lisa Latta-trained filly will likely head across the Tasman to compete in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick.

 

“She’s been nominated for the Australian Oaks and she is in that field,” Go Racing Syndicate manager Albert Bosma said.

 

“The weather forecast will play a big part in that. If it is going to be a hard track we won’t go, but if there’s rain around and she is well then we will.”

 

Bosma was pleased with the win on Saturday, but said his filly will now head to the paddock for a few days before being set for the Australian Oaks.

 

“She’s felt the run on Saturday. She’s quite tired from it, so we are going to put her in the paddock for three or four days and we will then bring her back and put her on the water walker for a week,” Bosma said.

 

“We will get her back in the stable and we will make the decision on whether she goes in the week of the ATC Oaks.

 

“We would go into that race without another run, she’s a naturally fit horse and a natural stayer.”

 

 

Four-year-old mare Misstumut made it back to back victories when successful over 2100m at Tauranga on Saturday and trainer Ben Ropiha is keen to campaign the daughter of Azamour further afield. 

 

“She always has shown that staying ability, but she did have a few issues last season with bone chips in both front fetlocks, so just to get her to the Oaks last year was a big effort,” Ropiha said. 

 

“She had those chips removed in July and has obviously gone the right way since.”

 

A former top-class jumps jockey, Ropiha has six horses in work at Te Awamutu in addition to riding trackwork for Stephen Marsh and working on the starting gates. 

 

“My plan from the outset this campaign was to hopefully get two or three wins under her belt and then possibly look at Brisbane,” Ropiha said. 

 

“I think she deserves her chance.”

 

 

Full Of Beauty made it five wins on the bounce in Hong Kong on Sunday with a three-quarter-length success in the Class 2 Ambitious Dragon Handicap (1200m) for trainer John Size.

 

The four-year-old son of proven New Zealand sire Darci Brahma maintained his unbeaten record, overcoming a wide draw (10) and an 11-point ratings rise to hold off Water Diviner.

 

“He’s a fantastic horse. He has progressed since the last time I was on board because he’s been coping with every situation he’s been put into,” jockey Joao Moreira said.

 

“It’s very hard to predict where he’ll end up, but we can see him picking up and he’s likely to be, in a few months’ time, matching the big guys,” Moreira said.

 

Full Of Beauty’s five wins have been accrued in only eleven weeks since his career debut on January 1.

 

“He’s been winning every time he’s been going out so I don’t know that he needs a break, but at the same time I wouldn't be surprised if John Size decides to put him away for a couple of months and brings him back fully for next season. 

 

“Whatever John thinks is best. I’m siding with him. He’s a master at judging when a horse is begging for some time off.”

 

Darci Brahma is a top-ten sire in Hong Kong by earnings behind fellow Kiwi sire Road To Rock, sire of outstanding galloper Beauty Generation. Darci Brahma is also second on the tables by wins (13) with fellow New Zealand sire Savabeel (14) heading that list.