Champion trainer Chris Waller has labelled the Australian Oaks a clash of the queens as two classic winners from opposite sides of the Tasman prepare to do battle.
While Waller has opted not to back-up star New Zealand-bred Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) from her stunning Australian Derby triumph, he will have former Kiwi Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) and Verry Elleegant’s (NZ) (Zed) close relation Belle Detelle (Zed) engaged.
The pair face an onerous task against Matt Laurie-trained star Treasurethe Moment, the VRC Oaks heroine and winner of her past seven starts, however Waller points out Leica Lucy also arrives strongly credentialled.
The filly has been triumphant in six of her seven outings and will make her debut for Waller off the back of a last start victory in the New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
“It’s the New Zealand queen running against the Australian queen, without Aeliana. It’s a good race,” Waller said on his weekly video.
Treasurethe Moment is a long odds-on favourite to extend her winning sequence in Saturday’s 2400m Randwick feature, while Leica Lucy is on the second line of betting at $5.
Formerly with Robbie Patterson in New Zealand, Leica Lucy began her campaign in November and Waller admitted that getting her to peak one more time would be his biggest challenge.
“It is never easy getting these New Zealand horses towards the end of their campaign,” he said.
“New Zealand is a little bit different. They don’t have a gap like we do. They have more late-spring racing, summer racing and then the autumn racing is almost non-existent.
“We have done the best we can to keep her ticking over, nothing special. She has put on a bit of weight since arriving and James McDonald rides. There is a lot in her favour.”
Two fillies have captured the New Zealand – ATC Australian Oaks double in the past decade, Pennyweka two years ago and Bonneval in 2017.
Waller also reported Belle Detelle, a three-quarter sister in blood to 11-time Group One winner Verry Elleegant, had come through her win in the Adrian Knox Stakes in good order and was expected to be competitive on a seven-day back-up.
Belle Detelle will be bidding to emulate Verry Elleegant, who captured the corresponding race in 2019.
Aeliana was being considered for a start in the Oaks but Waller said he had decided to spell her and focus on the spring.