Romantic Maid
Trish Dunell
New Zealand's chances of classic success at the Queensland winter carnival have received a double boost.
The Cambridge pair of Romantic Maid and Provocative were successful at Randwick and Ipswich respectively on Wednesday to confirm the crossing of their paths in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on June 4.
Roger James was delighted to see his High Chaparral filly Romantic Maid deliver in a three-year-old event over 2000 metres.
"That will seal a trip to the Queensland Oaks and on that run she deserves that opportunity," James said.
"She was in front a long way out and it's a big, long straight – she won well and it's what you want to see when you bring them this far."
The winner of two of her four New Zealand starts, Romantic Maid had finished third in her Australian debut at Rosehill in an effort that prompted a gear addition on the advice of jockey Michael Rodd.
"Michael said she felt a little bit tentative and needed blinkers and I had worked her in them at home," James said.
In the absence on Wednesday of the Singapore-based Rodd, Romantic Maid was ridden by Sam Clipperton who had the daughter of High Chaparral travelling well in third spot before peeling wide near the turn.
"I kept her in a nice rhythm and nursed her through her gears," he said. "There's a lot of upside to her and Roger has got a really nice horse."
Meanwhile, the Tony Pike-prepared Provocative made a successful Australian debut in the hands of Kiwi jockey Vinnie Colgan.
Despite racing greenly the Zabeel filly was a class above her opposition in an age group event over 2190m for the third win of her six-start career. – NZ Racing Desk.
The Cambridge pair of Romantic Maid and Provocative were successful at Randwick and Ipswich respectively on Wednesday to confirm the crossing of their paths in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on June 4.
Roger James was delighted to see his High Chaparral filly Romantic Maid deliver in a three-year-old event over 2000 metres.
"That will seal a trip to the Queensland Oaks and on that run she deserves that opportunity," James said.
"She was in front a long way out and it's a big, long straight – she won well and it's what you want to see when you bring them this far."
The winner of two of her four New Zealand starts, Romantic Maid had finished third in her Australian debut at Rosehill in an effort that prompted a gear addition on the advice of jockey Michael Rodd.
"Michael said she felt a little bit tentative and needed blinkers and I had worked her in them at home," James said.
In the absence on Wednesday of the Singapore-based Rodd, Romantic Maid was ridden by Sam Clipperton who had the daughter of High Chaparral travelling well in third spot before peeling wide near the turn.
"I kept her in a nice rhythm and nursed her through her gears," he said. "There's a lot of upside to her and Roger has got a really nice horse."
Meanwhile, the Tony Pike-prepared Provocative made a successful Australian debut in the hands of Kiwi jockey Vinnie Colgan.
Despite racing greenly the Zabeel filly was a class above her opposition in an age group event over 2190m for the third win of her six-start career. – NZ Racing Desk.