By Jonny Turner
Nothing short of a win will be good enough for Boudica if she is to beat the odds and qualify for the Southland Oaks Final at Winton on Friday
The Clark Barron trained filly needs to win and for several other results to go her way if she is to go from 22nd into the final top 12 on the leader board on the last day of qualifying for the Group Two Diamonds Day feature.
The first part of that mission looks achievable with Boudica rated a big winning chance in race 11.
The three-year-old comes into her 2400m assignment after charging into third in a big effort for driver Ellie Barron at Winton last weekend.
“It was a bit tough on mile day because I drew the second row all day and I had them flying home,” Barron said.
“Over a mile it was a bit hard to win, she didn’t really have any right to run third but she did.”
Boudica has drawn much more favourably on Friday in barrier 5 and that gives Barron the option to press forward and make her own luck.
“I’ve used her off the gate before and she has stuck on.”
“It is hard to know what to do from the draw with a wee filly like her.”
“But I will try to put her in the race and hopefully she is finishing on.”
If Boudica to qualify for the Southland Oaks she must beat With Grace, who also needs to win to make the race’s top 12.
Sista Sammy (race 2), So Art I (race 6) and Belmont Diva (race 7) each need to win to seal a top 12 position.
If those three fillies were to win they could push Wattlebank Star (race 7) and Bettastar (race 9) out of the top 12, so it will be vital for them to bank money from top-five placings and solidify their spots in the field.
Sweet Belle (race 7) can not make the top 12 even with a win, but she could still make the Southland Oaks Final if some horses who have qualified pull out of the feature event.
Barron drives Onedin Hurricane, who also charged into third placing at Winton last weekend.
The pacer just needs to race more tractably to go two places better in race 3.
“He is actually a very nice horse that has had a few problems.”
“We thought he would just a few times and he has had a few issues.”
“He was spectacular last time, I couldn’t even steer him and he still ran third.”
“He was that far back on the turn, but I think he could have won if I could have steered him.”
Lilac Becky was yet another of Barron’s third placegetters at Winton last weekend.
The four-year-old, who starts from barrier 2 on the second row, looks another solid place chance in the smart field lining up in race 10.
“She is great over 2400m and she is great following speed.”
“I have got options from the draw, I could go to the fence or stay one-off.”
“I will just see what happens in front of me, but I definitely think she will be running on.”
Prides Bellissima looked outpaced over a mile last weekend when struggling to keep up at various stages of her race including at the start.
With a better getaway in race 4, the five-year-old looks a rough hope.
“Every time she has been in the field she has really surprised me.”
“I wouldn’t say that if everything panned out she wouldn’t be running on, but she is a bit of a tricky mare.”
Prides Bellissima starts from barrier 1 in race 4.
