Chris Waller and James McDonald’s stellar trainer-rider alliance pushed on with their Sydney autumn carnival Group 1 mastery as Ohope Wins captured a breathtaking $1 million ATC Australian Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick this Saturday.
The combination boasts a Group 1 success across seven successive Saturdays—a record—initiated by Autumn Glow’s Verry Elleegant Stakes on February 28.
This phase represents exceptional ongoing superiority from Sydney’s elite trainer and jockey, with plans to connect once more with Fangirl (All Aged Stakes) and Campione D’Italia (Champagne Stakes) next Saturday to end the carnival.
Ohope Wins, a new stablemate for Waller, etched her name as the fourth filly to nail the New Zealand Oaks-ATC Australian Oaks double, after Pennyweka (2023), Bonneval (2017) and Domino (1990).
Much of the Oaks glory for Ohope Wins went to her prior trainer Lance O’Sullivan, per Waller.
“Obviously I’ve been gifted this lovely filly by Yulong and Lance O’Sullivan did a great job with her prior to coming to me,” Waller said.
“Plus they gave me a hand with her as well, they were very friendly and very helpful which we’ve got to thank them for.
“It wasn’t hard to have her ready for this race because you know the horse is good enough, it was just about keeping it simple.
“I think she needed the run (4th in the Vinery Stud Stakes) and speaking with Lance, the confidence he had in her, he said she’s one of the best horses that he’s ever had anything to deal with so it’s a pretty big comment coming from him.”
$2.60 top pick Ohope Wins surged late to defeat the gallant Profoundly ($3.20) by a long neck, holding off After Summer ($9.50) by a half head in third.
The relentless speed of the Oaks was tailor-made for Ohope Wins, McDonald observed.
“I always had a plan to ride her quietly,” McDonald said.”I was blessed when the pace went on and it never stopped so it was going to be the toughest stayer and that’s exactly what she was.
“She’s a very gritty filly. She had enough on the line, the other two were brave (Profoundly 2nd, After Summer 3rd) and it was lucky we were on a good horse.”
Ohope Wins provided Waller with a fifth ATC Australian Oaks, but pointing rising four-year-old mares at the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double isn’t routine for him.
Verry Elleegant‘s 2019 Oaks win didn’t lead to either Cup that spring for the four-year-old.
She succeeded in the Caulfield Cup upon five-year-old return and the Melbourne Cup next as a six-year-old mare.
Waller plans a spell for Ohope Wins, with spring races for the stayer still open-ended.
Profoundly, prepared by Michael Freedman, loomed largest after leading over the rise, yet Ohope Wins ran her down promptly, converting a potential blowout win into a gritty long-neck success.
After Summer bolstered her staying profile with Group 1 places back-to-back, advancing from second behind Belle Cheval in the Vinery Stud Stakes to a tight third in this Oaks.
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