The VRC Oaks had not previously been a race that featured highly on the radar for the celebrated trainer Chris Waller.
It was only in the preceding year that Waller finally put forward his first participant in the Classic, a race that commenced in 1861, which also marked the initial staging of the Melbourne Cup.
This particular race, designated for three-year-old fillies, is run over a challenging 2500-metre distance and occurs relatively early in the season for the fillies.
Last year, Waller prepared The Pearls, who secured second place behind Strictly Business, though the filly has not been seen on the racing circuit since that event.
Waller is now setting up to have two entries in this year’s Group 1 race at Flemington, scheduled for Thursday week. However, before that major engagement, the pair will compete in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
The Wakeful Stakes is regarded as the traditional preparatory race for the Oaks, and Waller has three fillies entered in the race – De Armas, Your Colour, and Tharwa.
It is the latter two, Your Colour and Tharwa, that Waller intends to advance towards the Oaks.
“Your Colour ran second last start, and Tharwa ran fourth in the same race,” Waller reported. “I can’t split them and if anything, Tharwa is one to watch.”
“They both drew wide at Caulfield and Tharwa had to come around them and made a lot of ground but was still strong on the line. They’re two exciting fillies heading towards an Oaks while De Armas, she’s already Group 1 placed, but we might pull up after Saturday.”
Waller elucidated that The Pearls, in conjunction with Your Colour and Tharwa, were the appropriate types of fillies to be contending for the Oaks.
“We brought the right horse for it,” Waller said, referring to finally having his first Oaks runner the previous year. “These two fillies are well prepared and we’re not rushing them into the race.”
“They’ve had the run at 2000 metres in the Ethereal last start, and I think that’s important, plus they have the pedigrees to suggest they can get 2500 metres on Oaks Day.”
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