The exception being Quick Finish, who is backing up after a third placing in last Saturday’s 2500-metre Howden Victoria Derby.
Looking into the background of each runner can provide clues to the likelihood of which of them might be best-equipped to run out the distance strongly and below is a look at the field for this year’s edition.
1 - PROXIMA DEA
3YO bay filly
Foaled: 22-8-2023
Tarzino (NZ) – Invisible Coin (Redoute’s Choice)
Breeder: Transtasman Breeders Pty Ltd
Trainer: David Payne
Jockey: Zac Lloyd (56kg)
Barrier: 19
Record: 5:5-0-0 | Prizemoney: $1,607,900
Distances won: 1400m, 1600m, 1800m (2), 2000m
Distances placed: Nil
The Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) winner is a sister to Gypsy Goddess, who is a Group 1 Oaks winner, albeit at 2200m in the Queensland Oaks. They are both out of a Redoute’s Choice mare, who is a sister to Flight Stakes winner Cheeky Choice, while Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) winner Zabrasive and Group 1 NZ Oaks (2400m) placegetter Danasia also appear on the page.
Proxima Dea and Gypsy Goddess are both by Tarzino, who also counts Derby winners Jungle Magnate and Willydoit among his progeny.
2 - ICELADY
3YO bay filly
Foaled: 13-9-2023
Maurice (JPN) – Lady Patricia (Snitzel)
Breeder: Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Jockey: Ethan Brown (56kg)
Barrier: 4
Record: 7:1-4-1 | Prizemoney: $523,650
Distances won: 1400m
Distances placed: 1100m, 1147m, 1200m, 1600m, 2000m
Maher does put the polish on Icelady, a filly he bought in partnership with Thompson Creek Thoroughbreds for $130,000 at last year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
She is by Arrowfield’s star Japan shuttler Maurice, sire of VRC Derby an ATC Derby winner Hitotsu, out of a Snitzel mare not light on for Black Type. Icelady is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Kenedna, who won out to 2200m, and ran fourth in a Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) and also counts a Flight Stakes winner in the family with Speak Fondly out of a half-sister to Icelady’s granddam.
3 - QUICK FINISH
3YO bay filly
Foaled: 8-10-2023
Grunt (NZ) – Gentle Strokes (Golden Horn (GB))
Breeder: Yulong Investments Yulong Stud
Trainer: Tony & Calvin McEvoy
Jockey: Jye McNeil (56kg)
Barrier: 5
Record: 5:3-0-1 | Prizemoney: $547,125
Distances won: 1500m, 1800m, 2000m
Distances placed: 2500m
The first filly in 36 years to contest the Derby – in which finished third – was bred by Yulong, which offered her at last year’s Premier Sale, but end up taking her home after she failed to reach her meagre reserve of $25,000.
A daughter of Yulong’s foundation stallion Grunt, a son of the renowned sire of stayers O’Reilly, out of an unraced Golden Horn mare whose standout relation from a staying perspective is Listed winner Universal Order, a son of a half-sister to Gentle Strokes’ dam, who won out to a mile-and-a-half.
4 - DE ARMAS (NZ)
3YO bay filly
Foaled: 9-10-2023
Ardrossan – Regal Winks (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle (IRE))
Breeder: Jml Bloodstock Ltd
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: James McDonald (56kg)
Barrier: 1
Record: 7:3-1-0 | Prizemoney: $508,668
Distances won: 800m, 1100m, 2000m
Distances placed: 1600m
The Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) winner was a NZ$16,000 online purchase who is out a Kiwi-based stallion who is a son of Redoute’s Choice from a versatile female family. Group 1-winning Hong Kong sprinter All Thrills Too is out of a half-sister to Regal Winks’ dam and the speedy Extreme Warrior also appears on the page, but there is form out to 2000m.
5 - VOYNICHESE
3YO bay filly
Foaled: 7-10-2023
Pinatubo (IRE) – Great Mystery (Redoute’s Choice)
Breeder: Canning Downs Pty Ltd
Trainer: Nick Olive
Jockey: Declan Bates (56kg)
Barrier: 7
Record: 8:2-1-0 | Prizemoney: $149,225
Distances won: 1200m, 1500m
Distances placed: 1100m
Nick Olive snapped up the daughter of Darley shuttle stallion Pinatubo for just $30,000 out of Book 2 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and her third dam is Zagalia, a daughter of Zabeel, who won a Queensland Oaks when it was run at 2400m. Granddam Dawnie Perfect won one of the key Oaks lead-ups – the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) – and Voynichese’s dam Great Mystery was a winner out to 2000m.
6 - SALANN
3YO brown filly
Foaled: 13-8-2023
Shamus Award – A Pinch of Salt (Star Witness)
Breeder: Barree Stud
Trainer: Ben Brisbourne
Jockey: Ms Rachel King (56kg)
Barrier: 12
Record: 6:0-2-1 | Prizemoney: $143,225
Distances won: Nil
Distances placed: 1200m, 1600m, 2040m
The Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) third placegetter is a chance to be one of the Oaks’ fairytale stories after being acquired for just $10,000 at last year’s Inglis Classic Sale.
She’s by Shamus Award, sire of quality stayers including Incentivise and Duais, out of a Star Witness mare whose only winner to date is A Pinch Of Salt, who won out to 1623m. The best name to appear on the page is Typhoon Tracy, who’s out of a half-sister to Salann’s third dam Scribbling.
7 - CHURCHILL ROSE
3YO bay filly
Foaled: 28-8-2023
Churchill (IRE) – Racy Rosie (Rebel Raider)
Breeder: The Toorak Thoroughbred Breeding Trust
Trainer: Andrew Gluyas
Jockey: Craig Williams (56kg)
Barrier: 10
Record: 8:1-3-0 | Prizemoney: $132,640
Distances won: 1600m
Distances placed: 1000m, 1400m, 1800m
Adelaide trainer Andrew Gluyas went to $60,000 for this girl at his hometown Magic Millions sale with the Mill Park-raised filly by a versatile Irish stallion out of a mare who is by the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) and Group 1 SA Derby (2500m) winner Rebel Raider. There is not a heap of distance form on the page, but Mail It In – who is a three-quarter-sister to Racey Rosie – was a Listed winner who did win out to 2020m.
8 - YOUR COLOUR
3YO grey filly
Foaled: 14-8-2023
Maurice (JPN) – April Rain (Pierro)
Breeder: Hermitage Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Blake Shinn (56kg)
Barrier: 14
Record: 7:1-1-1 | Prizemoney: $104,375
Distances won: 1400m
Distances placed: 1600m, 2000m
Another by the star Japanese stallion who is the first foal from a Pierro mare who won three times, but never beyond 1300m. April Rain is out of the former classy Danehill mare Your Colour, who won a Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1600m).
9 - JOELY
3YO bay filly
Foaled: 1-9-2023
Toronado (IRE) – Lovani (Lonhro)
Breeder: Kia Ora Stud Pty Ltd
Trainer: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
SCRATCHED
10 - EXPENSIVE TASTE
3YO bay filly
Foaled: 4-8-2023
North Pacific – Taste of Money (Not a Single Doubt)
Breeder: Mr D Morrissey
Trainer: Tony & Calvin McEvoy
Jockey: Luke Currie (56kg)
Barrier: 11
Record: 9:0-2-3 | Prizemoney: $59,540
Distances won: Nil
Distances placed: 1050m, 1200m (2), 1400m, 2016m
The $250,000 Inglis Classic purchase is by a son of Brazen Beau who was at his best over sprint trips and his first couple of crops have also showed themselves to be at their best over similar distances. Taste Of Money is by another sprint sire, Not A Single Doubt, but does trace back to a European family with form out to a mile-and-a-half.
11 - NOTIFIED
3YO bay or brown filly
Foaled: 12-9-2023
Maurice (JPN) – Bonanova’s Dream (Redoute’s Choice)
Breeder: Asco International Pty Ltd
Trainer: Archie Alexander
Jockey: Billy Egan (56kg)
Barrier: 15
Record: 6:1-1-0 | Prizemoney: $55,610
Distances won: 1500m
Distances placed: 1800m
The third runner fort Maurice in the race who sold for $50,000 as a weanling on the Gold Coast before making $125,000 as a yearling at Inglis Premier.
Notified is out of a daughter of mighty miler Bonanova, who was a winner of the GROUP 1 Champions Mile (1600m) around the turn of the century. She is closely-related to Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) winner Extra Choice, while Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) winner Fraternity also appears on the pedigree page.
12 - REFUSE TO CURTSY
3YO brown filly
Foaled: 18-10-2023
Royal Meeting (IRE) – Tivoli Lass (Uncle Mo (USA))
Breeder: Mr M Falvey
Trainer: Thomas Carberry
SCRATCHED
13 - NIKITRIA
3YO bay filly
Foaled: 15-9-2023
The Autumn Sun – Missybeel (NZ) (Savabeel)
Breeder: Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd
Trainer: Clinton McDonald
Jockey: Ben Melham (56kg)
Barrier: 16
Record: 6:1-0-0 | Prizemoney: $41,750
Distances won: 1300m
Distances placed: Nil
Clinton McDonald went to $550,000 for the filly by The Autumn Sun, sire of Autumn Glow and Oaks winners Autumn Angel and Vibrant Sun. Nikitria is closely-related to Courting, the third emergency for this year’s Oaks, both sharing Sitting Pretty as a second dam. Along with producing Missybeel and Courting’s dam Loveseat, she is a blood sister to Group 1 NZ Oaks (2400m) winner Amarelinha.
14 - WAIHEKE ROSE (NZ)
3YO brown filly
Foaled: 19-8-2023
Noverre (NZ) – Maxmara (NZ) (O’Reilly (NZ))
Breeder: Waikato Stud Ltd
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
SCRATCHED
15 - THARWA
3YO chestnut filly
Foaled: 29-7-2023
Tagaloa – Winning Ways (Declaration Of War (USA))
Breeder: Yulong Investments Yulong Stud
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Damian Lane (56kg)
Barrier: 17
Record: 5:0-1-1 | Prizemoney: $37,200
Distances won: Nil
Distances placed: 1450m, 1600m
The daughter of the Blue Diamond winner was a $95,000 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale purchase who was entered for sale as a yearling at Magic Millions but withdrawn after Emirates Park elected to retain her to race.
She will emulate her mother, a daughter of Declaration Of War, if she wins on Thursday with Winning Ways a victor in the Queensland Oaks in 2019.
16 - SHAMEFUL IMPULSE
3YO brown filly
Foaled: 9-9-2023
Shamus Award – Impulsive Liaison (Savabeel)
Breeder: Barree Stud
Trainer: Rob Blacker
Jockey: William Pike (56kg)
Barrier: 8
Record: 5:1-0-1 | Prizemoney: $35,775
Distances won: 1400m
Distances placed: 1400m
Rob Blacker only needed $11,000 to get the filly by a proven staying sire out of an unraced Savabeel mare whose family’s best results have been achieved in races up to 1600m.
17 - QUYNH
3YO bay filly
Foaled: 20-9-2023
I Am Immortal – Catch a Hero (Von Costa de Hero)
Breeder: TPRC Pty Ltd Trading As Snow View Park
Trainer: Emma-Lee & David Browne
Jockey: Jamie Mott (56kg)
Barrier: 3
Record: 5:1-0-0 | Prizemoney: $51,050
Distances won: 1600m
Distances placed: Nil
David And Emma-Lee Browne got Quynh for just $4000 via Inglis Digital in April 2025 but probably didn’t think she’d end up in a VRC Oaks, even though she is a half-sister to Heart Of Puissance, who won out to 2500m. Quynh is by I Am Immortal, a speedster, who is a son of champion stallion I Am Invincible.
18 - LITTLE ALLY BAMA
3YO bay filly
Foaled: 8-9-2023
Alabama Express – Little Hottie (NZ) (O’Reilly (NZ))
Breeder: Mrs M Hunt
Trainer: Andrew Bobbin
Jockey: Ms Linda Meech (56kg)
Barrier: 2
Record: 4:1-0-1 | Prizemoney: $29,760
Distances won: 2100m
Distances placed: 1765m
Daughter of the stallion who was a sprinter but did produce Treasurethe Moment, the winner of the VRC Oaks two years ago, out of a mare by proven staying sire O’Reilly who traces back to an American family that performed best up to 1800m.
19 - COURTING
3YO bay filly
Foaled: 30-8-2023
Kermadec (NZ) – Loveseat (NZ) (Savabeel)
Breeder: Godolphin Australia
Trainer: Tony & Calvin McEvoy
Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy (56kg)
Barrier: 20
Record: 4:0-1-2 | Prizemoney: $15,455
Distances won: Nil
Distances placed: 1400m, 2016m, 2100m
Homebred Darley filly by a sire who is most famous for producing staying three-year-olds fillies, including Montefila, VRC Oaks winner Willowy and Amokura. Out of a Savabeel mare who is a blood sister to NZ Oaks winner Amarelinha. Courting bears a close connection to Oaks rival Nikitria, whose dam Missybeel is a sister to Loveseat.
20 - CHOCOLATE FRECKLES
3YO brown filly
Foaled: 12-9-2023
Impending – Star Of Persia (Dalakhani (IRE))
Breeder: Mr P W M O’Connor
Trainer: Pat Carey & Harris Walker
Jockey: Ms Celine Gaudray (56kg)
Barrier: 9
Record: 3:0-1-0 | Prizemoney: $7,640
Distances won: Nil
Distances placed: 1500m
By a son of Lonhro who was a sprinter/miler out of a daughter of an Arc De Triomphe winner who was unraced and traces back to the Attrition who raced just under 20 years ago, and was trained by Carey, who won a Mornington Cup at 2000m.
