Cranbourne trainer Pat Hyland is confident his star filly Zarita can win her third consecutive Group 1 race in the AJC Oaks at Randwick next Wednesday.
By Glen Atwell
AUTUMN racing star Zarita is favourite to win the 2400m AJC Oaks at Randwick next Wednesday, but don’t go reminding Cranbourne trainer Pat Hyland.
Hyland said his filly was well and truly race fit, but admitted that winning the AJC Oaks would require another monumental effort.
On paper, the form could not be better.
Zarita has won back-to-back Group 1 races in Adelaide, the 2000m Schweppes Oaks on 29 March, and the 2500m SA Derby on April 12.
Before that, Zarita saluted in consecutive Group 2 victories at Caulfield and Flemington.
Now all she has to do is race in the other direction.
“It’s a big challenge to go the other way for the first time,” Hyland said.
“But I’m not expecting it to be a problem.”
Zarita is $3.50 to win the AJC Oaks, ahead of Bernicia at $5. Western Australian Oaks and Derby winner Grand Journey is next in the market at $8.
Hyland said Zarita had recovered well from the two trips to South Australia, and was in good spirits when she returned home to Clyde last week.
“She’s picked up well. She prefers to be trained in her home environment,” he said.
“We won’t be doing much work with her leading up to the race. My challenge is to keep her up and fresh.”
Win, lose or draw, the AJC Oaks will be the last race for Zarita in a spell that dates back to early February.
“She’ll be out to the paddock after this,” Hyland said.
“Then she’ll come back for the spring.”
Winning the SA Derby gives Zarita automatic qualification into the Caulfield and Melbourne cups.
Even before the gates fly back next Wednesday, Hyland said Zarita was as good, if not better, than his 1995 VRC Oaks winner Saleous.
“She’s probably better, or at least equally as good,” he said.
“There’s a 13-year gap between the two, so it’s hard to compare.”
Experienced hoop Greg Childs will ride Zarita in the AJC Oaks.
Hyland said Childs, who has ridden the filly in her past 11 starts, was doing everything right.
“She was quite aggressive when he first got hold of her, but he has settled her down nicely,” he said.
Apache Cat, another successive Group 1 winner trained at Cranbourne, will join Zarita in Sydney this week.
The five-year-old sprinter is aiming for this third Group 1 win on the trot in the $500,000 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Trainer Greg Eurell said Apache Cat had impressed in a track gallop at Cranbourne on Saturday morning.
“He worked very strongly and it was very encouraging,” he said.
Eurell said Apache Cat was more than capable of winning on Saturday, but conceded it would be a tough task.
“We’re coming up against some tough opposition. Horses like Takeover Target and Magnus, it won’t be easy,’ he said.
“But he’s had two weeks off, the softer track will suit him and I’m confident he’ll be right up there.”
Apache Cat will be ridden by Corey Brown on Saturday, and made the journey to Sydney on Wednesday night.
