Julia Ritchie has devoted much of her time and a lot of her money to racing, and her investment could pay off in a big way at Randwick on Saturday.Ritchie is a part-owner of AJC Australian Oaks favourite Miss Darcey and leading Doncaster Mile contender Solo Flyer, her first runners in either race.A member of the board of the Australian Jockey Club (AJC), Ritchie's love of the thoroughbred was developed and nurtured by her late father Bill who put some of the money he made from shoes into breedin

Julia Ritchie has devoted much of her time and a lot of her money to racing, and her investment could pay off in a big way at Randwick on Saturday.

Ritchie is a part-owner of AJC Australian Oaks favourite Miss Darcey and leading Doncaster Mile contender Solo Flyer, her first runners in either race.

A member of the board of the Australian Jockey Club (AJC), Ritchie's love of the thoroughbred was developed and nurtured by her late father Bill who put some of the money he made from shoes into breeding horses at Bangaloe Stud.

The family concern fostered his daughter's passion and when she was a teenager, Julia Ritchie met Anthony Cummings at the Easter yearling sale.

The pair formed a friendship that remains decades later and Cummings is the trainer of her two Group One aspirants.

Some years ago, Cummings introduced Ritchie to Hal Dyball and the pair began a joint breeding venture with a mare named Terrestrial.

The pair hit paydirt off the bat with Terrestrial's son Outback Prince who won the Group One TJ Smith at Eagle Farm for two-year-olds in 2004.

Another son, Hotel Grand, won the Spring Champion Stakes the following year and Dyball is also a partner in Miss Darcey.

"It's quite amazing, as a family we've been involved in racing all our lives and it's never happened that we've had runners in two Group One races on one day," Ritchie said.

"I don't think Dad ever even had a Doncaster runner.

"Solo Flyer is my first and Miss Darcey is my first Oaks runner so it's all virgin territory.

"Two thirds of the same group own both horses so it will be a very exciting day."

Miss Darcey stormed into contention for the Oaks (2400m) with a dominant win in last Saturday's Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) which prompted the payment of a late entry fee to the Classic.

The filly is a daughter of Miss Bussell who finished third in the 2002 Queensland Derby and both are named for former Royal Ballet principal ballerina Darcey Bussell.

While Miss Darcey is realising her potential at three, Solo Flyer has taken a little longer but goes into the Doncaster undefeated from three starts this campaign.

Now a four-year-old, Solo Flyer indicated his ability as a juvenile with his second to Meurice in the Group One Champagne Stakes.

He was a leading contender for the $1 million Golden Rose in the spring of 2007 but the equine influenza (EI) outbreak put paid to the carnival.

When he came back the following autumn, Solo Flyer put in some lacklustre performances and eventually tests revealed he had a problem.

"He promised so much as a two year-old and he's finally back to the horse we knew we had then," Ritchie said.

"After coming second to Meurice in the Champagne I think he was rated in the top ten two-year-olds.

"He was favourite for the Golden Rose when he came back at three but EI derailed that.

"He raced all through the autumn last year but just wasn't comfortable in his own skin.

"We scanned him and they found bone chips and he had arthroscopy on both knees.

"He had a long recuperation but he is certainly back now."

Solo Flyer is a $14 chance for the Doncaster Mile with Miss Darcey at $4.80 to win the Oaks and both will be ridden by Corey Brown.