Winning jockey John Allen said he probably should’ve been lining up in the Cox Plate and he’s capable of going further than 1600m.
But triumphant trainer Annabel Neasham was just ecstatic with My Oberon’s victory in the Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley, and she believes he has a bright future in Australia.
The Irish import – in his first start since July 9 – sat back in the eight-horse field before making his move at the turn.
His classy finishing ability was too much from there, going on to win by 1.5 lengths.
2022 Crystal Mile Replay
“That was super because I just thought he’d be a bit underdone. He hasn’t ran since July,” Neasham told Racing.com.
“And it’s great to see that Johnny was three wide and the owners were going ‘argh!’
“I said ‘he’s probably at the best part of the track there’.
“He was super. William Haggas sent me a message the other day saying ‘good luck, don’t hit the front too soon’.
“That was good advice. But he hit the front and he held on well.
“He’ll come on a lot from that and hopefully we’ll find a nice race in two weeks.”
Neasham believes more Group success in Australia is heading the way of her talented six-year-old gelding.
And it could well come over the spring.
“He looks like he’ll suit Down Under perfectly,” she said.
“He’ll probably push on to the Champions Mile (on November 5) from here.”
It was Allen’s third Crystal Mile triumph and his second straight, after winning aboard Just Folk for Josh Julius last year.
Like Neasham, he believes My Oberon can only get better in Australia and over longer distances.
“At 1600, you’d imagine he might get a bit further. He relaxes nice,” he said.
“There was a bit of a concern about the soft ground, but last week (in trackwork) he seemed to get through it well.
“It was a good win. Maybe he should’ve been in the Cox Plate. But a good effort.”
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