WHILE the positions for Saturday's final classic race of the season remain far from finalised before this morning's final acceptance payment, there are no such 11th-hour dilemmas for Mick Kent and his Queensland Derby hopeful Oforawesome, reports The Age. Its report says: Safely in the final 18 for the $500,000 race, Oforawesome is immune to the last-minute jostling, which could result in as many as four fillies contesting the race and two of the fancied runners missing out on a start. The Derby
WHILE the positions for Saturday's final classic race of the season remain far from finalised before this morning's final acceptance payment, there are no such 11th-hour dilemmas for Mick Kent and his Queensland Derby hopeful Oforawesome, reports The Age.
Its report says: Safely in the final 18 for the $500,000 race, Oforawesome is immune to the last-minute jostling, which could result in as many as four fillies contesting the race and two of the fancied runners missing out on a start. The Derby field, which will be finalised in Brisbane this morning, could yet boast all three placegetters in last Saturday's Queensland Oaks, depending on decisions to be made throughout Australasia this morning.
For Kent, however, there are no such concerns.
''Obviously, he's got a big task in front of him but he's a very green and quite backward horse and so I just think the trip away and the whole experience will be the making of him as a stayer,'' Kent said. ''It's very important he settles in the run and I think he'll take a lot out of his [unplaced] run in Sydney last weekend as he's now had a good look at the reverse way and will be suited getting up to 2400 metres.''
The only certain female in the 18-horse field will be Victorian Zabeel filly Heidilicious, who earned her spot when she successfully barrier-trialled to the satisfaction of stewards in Brisbane yesterday. (www.theage.com.au)