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News

The Queen of the Oaks?

OTI is set for another busy weekend, with 10 horses running across Europe and Australia. This contingent includes a number of horses making their debut in the OTI colours.

Tonight, we have Savvy Acquisition and Urban Royal running at Cranbourne. If you can forgive a last start failure when set the unfamiliar task of leading, Savvy Acquisition would be considered a chance to break his maiden over the 2025m trip. Following an impressive trial win, Urban Royal is ready to make her seasonal debut in a 1300m BM64. This daughter of Exceed and Excel is expected to hit the line strongly.

Saturday’s runners will be headlined by Aloisia in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks. The filly will be making her 5th start at Group 1 level this preparation, which has been littered with bad luck and wide gates. The stable has reported that her work has remained strong and remain confident that she can finally record an Oaks to her name.

Gallic Chieftain has also made the trip to Queensland and will be seeking to make it three in a row in the Group 3 2200m Premier’s Cup, where he’ll be ridden by one of Australia’s best hoops, Mark Zahra. Gallic Chieftain will again have to overcome a wide gate, but his form and conditioning should see him run well.

There will be little sleep enjoyed on Saturday night in Australia, with two horses currently expected to start in Europe.

Mr Satchmo, a recent addition to the stable, is set to take his place in the 1900m Listed Derby du Midi at Bordeaux on Saturday night.  This highly talented three-year-old colt is trained by Antoine de Watrigant (of Gailo Chop fame) and is being at aimed at races like the French and Belmont Derbies later in the year.

On the other side of the English Channel, Dark Pearl could run at Chester, with a view to having him spot on for a second-up run over the Royal Ascot Carnival. However, he has drawn the outside gate in a field of 12.  With other options available to trainer Ed Walker, he could be saved for another day.

 The weekend concludes with Hutchinson debuting at Geelong. A son of Shocking, Hutchinson is bred to stay, so Sunday’s run will be an educational affair for both he and Matt Cumani.  It will be great to see him great the starter for the first time.