Corby, Where's Poppy combine for local Oaks success

Rising SA star Where’s Poppy took out the 2023 Group 3 SA Oaks on Thursday night overcoming a wide draw and a talented field at Angle Park.

The win was an emotional result for trainer Kirin Corby, who claimed her first SA Oaks after winning the SA Derby with Lion Hearted, twenty years ago in 2003.

Success in the Oaks with Where’s Poppy was a thrill for Corby who bred the chaser out of Sennachie and Fabwik and made the success a truly homegrown South Australian affair.  

Speaking with greyhoundracingsa.com.au, Corby said she was thrilled to claim the Oaks with Where’s Poppy.

“I am a bit emotional. It’s special because I had her Mum and I had her Dad and it was a really good win,” Corby said.

“I won the Derby many years ago and it is nice to win the Oaks because I don’t think I have had a chance as good as her before.”

Where’s Poppy entered the race in excellent form having won five of its last six starts including an impressive heat victory last week where it was well supported in winning from box four.

While the heat win was impressive, the box draw had Corby concerned with a box eight draw not suiting the hard railing chaser.

“I was really a bit depressed when I got eight,” Corby said on the box draw.

“She is a railer and I knew she wanted to get across I knew she had early speed but I didn’t dare to hope that she could win.”

However, an excellent 5.28 first split saw Where’s Poppy take the lead at the first post and it was never troubled from there, holding off the field with an excellent run home before stopping the lock in 30.58 which was nearly one tenth of a second quicker than its personal best.

It was an eighth career win from 11 starts for Where’s Poppy which includes six wins in its last seven starts mostly across Thursday night company.

“She’s been getting fitter,” Corby said.

“Last week’s weather was not her weather, but we have had a few runs in a row with her and she is just getting better.”

Weblec Jewel and Purified finished second and third for Victorian trainer Jeffrey Britton while Zipping Mahalia for local trainer Nicole Price finished in fourth place.