Master trainer Bart Cummings has weaved his magic again, this time with Allez Wonder whose victory in the Keith Nolan Classic has put her firmly in contention for the AJC Australian Oaks.The Listed Keith Nolan (1600m), the autumn feature at Kembla Grange on the NSW south coast, was littered with quality but Allez Wonder was not among the fancies.Still a maiden before the race, she was sent out at $41.It wasn't just punters who were surprised by the win but also Cummings' stable foreman John Thom
Master trainer Bart Cummings has weaved his magic again, this time with Allez Wonder whose victory in the Keith Nolan Classic has put her firmly in contention for the AJC Australian Oaks.
The Listed Keith Nolan (1600m), the autumn feature at Kembla Grange on the NSW south coast, was littered with quality but Allez Wonder was not among the fancies.
Still a maiden before the race, she was sent out at $41.
It wasn't just punters who were surprised by the win but also Cummings' stable foreman John Thompson.
"We didn't have her fully wound up for this race and that was truly unexpected," Thompson said.
"We've been eyeing off the Oaks with her and were just looking to keep her ticking over and so what she did was a big surprise but a nice one all the same."
Thompson said Allez Wonder would line up in the Storm Queen Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on April 4 before heading to her grand final, the AJC Australian Oaks (2400m) two weeks later at Randwick.
Winning jockey Peter Robl was delighted with the filly who he rode in her last start 15th to Portillo in the Group Two Surround Stakes (1400m) on March 7.
"She didn't get out that day and I thought she wasn't going to get out today, but when she did she absolutely flew home," Robl said.
Allez Wonder wasn't spotted until they straightened while out in front the Gai Waterhouse-trained Above Perfection ($7) pinched a break halfway down the straight and looked to have the race in her keeping.
But Allez Wonder kept coming and Above Perfection tired close to the line to be beaten a neck.
Above Perfection's narrow loss was the second in a row for Waterhouse after stablemate Faulconbridge, who started $1.40 favourite in the Kembla Grange Cup, was beaten by a half head by $31 chance New Edge.
The day began brightly for the Waterhouse stable with Grand Song winning the opening race of the day with Blake Shinn aboard.
Shinn was stood down after the Above Perfection ride after reporting to stewards he was feeling ill.
One of the highlights of the off-track activities came in the Myer Fashions On The Field where a man called David Jones was entered in the competition but despite overwhelming crowd support could only manage third.