DARLEY FLIGHT STAKES

(GROUP 1)

AUSTRALIA’S best maiden, the Tony McEvoy-trained Oohood has shrugged off that tag with a thrilling win in the Group 1 Flight Stakes for three-year-old fillies. As race favourite Miss Fabulass and Fiesta looked to have the finish between them, Oohood and Naketta Jane flew from the clouds, five lengths in arrears with 200 metres to run, with Oohood mowing down the leaders to prevail in four-way finish.

A neck separated the quartet as the I Am Invincible filly won by a nose ahead of Fiesta, also by I Am Invincible, with the So You Think filly Naketta Jane third.

“When they were coming up the straight I thought oh no, here we go again, not another close finish, not another narrow defeat, but thank God she put her nose out for us,” said McEvoy.

“She was stiff in the Blue Diamond (third), stiff in the (Golden) Slipper (second) I thought, and the Sires’ (second).

“She’s very courageous, there’s not a lot of her, but she’s got great ability and she’s very tenacious. We’ll go and run in the Caulfield Guineas, we’ll take on the boys.”

MINI-EVEREST

In what was dubbed a mini-Everest, Saturday’s Group 2 Premiere Stakes over the Everest course and distance of 1,200 metres had six of the 12 starters engaged in what was their final race before the A$13 million spectacular.

Impressive runs came from Santa Ana Lane and Shoals, the race finishing in that order, separated by a half-head to In Her Time. Redzel weakened from the lead to place fifth and Trapeze Artist gave little away boxing on for fourth and giving the impression he will improve from the run.

TOP OF THE MARKET

As a result Santa Ana Lane, Trapeze Artist and Vega Magic share the top of the market for pre-post betting for The Everest, ahead of In Her Time, Redzel and Shoals on the next line.

U S Navy Flag is currently rated an $11 chance in local markets.

Santa Ana Lane stopped the clock in track record time providing trainer Anthony Freedman with the race quinella.

“To be honest I thought she (Shoals) was the one at the furlong, but as always he (Santa Ana Lane) sneaks up on us and he’s got there again,” said Freedman.

“Santa, we’ll just keep him happy now, he’s probably right where we need him to be.

“Shoals probably had a little bit of improvement to come; she’ll come on for that and both will be right where we need them to be in two weeks’ time.”