2021 SA Oaks and SA Derby Final Reviews
Last night at Angle Park Don’t Tell Lies for trainer Lauren Harris wrote her name into the record books when she was able to take out the Group 3 Coffex Coffee SA Oaks final.
It was a beautiful spring night at headquarters as the best young females in the state took their place in the prestigious race. Don’t Tell Lies was sent out at huge double figure odds as race favourites She’s A Hotshot for Troy Murray, Spring Agatha for Greg Board and Zinfandel Nikki for Gavin Harris dominated the market.
As the race started the daughter of Fernando Bale and Quest For Glory showed terrific acceleration to punch through from box 4 and lead to the first turn. She was able to hold out a strong challenge from She’s A Hotshot who also began very well. Zinfandel Nikki moved forward quickly and was able to race up near the lead however Spring Agatha was slow out of the machine and landed at the tail of the field. First reserve, Queen Redeem which gained a run from box 1 for Victorian trainer Matthew Marshall (in the care of Lauren Harris) began nicely and sat just of the speed. As they headed to the back straight Don’t Tell Lies held the lead with Zinfandel Nikki sweeping around the outside to run to second. She’s A Hotshot found some trouble and dropped back to midfield while Queen Redeem pushed through into third along the inside. Off the back straight and Don’t Tell Lies looked to breakway from her challengers however Zinfandel Nikki went with her and closed the gap while Queen Redeem moved into a clear third as they opened up a gap to their rivals. Into the front straight and it was a race in three with Don’t Tell Lies kicking strongly, Zinfandel Nikki trying hard and Queen Redeem looking for an inside run however it was Don’t Tell Lies Oaks SA final as she claimed the group 3 success. She won by 1 ¼ lengths in a slick 30.56 showing plenty of heart in the run to the line defeating Zinfandel Nikki and Queen Redeem back in third in a stirring battle.
Owned in Tasmania by the Don’t Tell Girls syndicate the $25,000 first prize took Don’t Tell Lies prizemoney to just under $29,000 and the handy record of 4 wins and 1 placings from her 11 lifetime starts.
The BGC SA Derby final as always showcases some of the best young male chasers in the state with a terrific field lining up for the Group 3 feature however it was a greyhound having only his 6th lifetime start taking home the $25,000 first prize.
Mallee Magic for trainer Tony Rasmussen was unwanted in betting as it was his second run back from a 1 month break. He started huge odds and from box 4 was given little chance of challenging and early in the race he looked like he was out of play. Race favourites Came And Went for Troy Murray and Gemtree Maximus for Paul Rehmann, as expected, exploded out of the boxes to challenge for the early lead while Black Cobra for John Sargent and Hiring for Jack Trengove made good ground to sit just off the pace. Mallee Magic found himself worse than midfield and to the inside of runners however prior to the back straight he moved himself to the outside to start to make ground on the leaders while Arby’s Roger for Penny Sargent and Deadly Mamba for Tony Rasmussen tried to make ground along the inside. After tight racing and into the back straight and Came And Went shook off the strong challenge of Gemtree Maximus as he tried to pinch a break on his rivals opening up a two length lead. Mallee Magic was starting to get into his work as he closed on the leaders and moved to third while Arby’s Roger and Deadly Mamba continued to make ground. Prior to tuning for home Came And Went was coming back to his rivals as they closed in the run to the line. Down the home straight and Came And Went was trying to hang on however sweeping down the outside was the son of Worm Burner and Bells Are Ringin who raced clear in the shadows of the post for a brilliant win by 1 length running away. Came And Went held on for second along with Gemtree Maximus in third. They ran a flying 30.57 for the 530m journey in another terrific edition of the SA Derby
Owned by Cameron Butcher, Mallee Magic has only had 6 starts for 4 wins and prizemoney past $32,000.
