Ben and Ryan Foote have taken a single-minded approach to Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) with their genuine filly Myakkabelle (NZ) (War Decree).
The father and son team have been solely focussed on their daughter of War Decree ahead of a return trip to Trentham to again do battle with dominant market leader Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai-sponsored Classic at Trentham.
“One thing that Ben has taught me is that you can only worry about your own job,” Ryan Foote said.
“I don’t know how many $1.50 favourites have won an Oaks, but we are only concerned about our filly and it’s a horse race and anything can happen.”
Myakkabelle has progressed well through to age group black type racing this season and stepped up over ground for the first time when fourth on New Year’s Day in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m).
She then finished third in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) and runner-up at Trentham last time out in the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m), both times behind Robbie Patterson’s Leica Lucy.
The stable is also confident the step up in trip will pose no problems for Myakkabelle, who will again be ridden by Vinnie Colgan.
“It’s only an extra 300m and we don’t have any worries whatsoever about her running it out,” Foote said.
Myakkabelle has also proved her ability to perform on top of the ground and cope with any softening of the going.
“She’s all good to go and she’s in good form. She went really well at her last start and any rain around won’t worry her,” Foote said.
“In her first start (at Te Rapa) on a Heavy 10 track, she flew home for second so any rain would only help her chances. There are a lot of positives about her, that’s for sure.”
While the immediate focus is on Saturday, it may not necessarily be the filly’s grand final.
“We will definitely consider other options if she runs up to expectations,” Foote said.
“We will see how she comes through the races and how she does in the days after first though.”
Myakkabelle was a $55,000 purchase out of breeder Inglewood Stud’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.
She is a daughter of the unraced Irish-bred Lawman mare Myakka Park and a strong international black type pedigree that also features the Australasian Group Two winers Bella Waters (Tauranga Stakes, 1600m) and Immediacy (Autumn Classic, 2000m).
