Oakland Park had all the bases covered from the south-west to the mid-west last week and its homebred filly Pure Excess hit a home-run in the G3 Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) on Saturday.
Pure Excess (3f Exceedance – Pure Purity by Perfect Soul) went into the spring grand-final for fillies a maiden but had put the writing on the wall with an encouraging third in the LR Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) on Melbourne Cup Day.
Longshot Pure Silver (D’argento) set furious fractions in front while Pure Excess tracked Talkanco (I’m All The Talk) some ten lengths behind the speed. She only got the better of the odds-on favourite right on the line but trainer Dan Morton was confident in running.
Photo / Western Racepix
“She was chasing down a very good horse and it was a super effort even though it was by the barest of margins. She’s been training beautifully and is the real deal. It’s great for Oakland Park Stud and I will discuss our options with Neville Duncan.
“We can back her up into the (G2) WA Guineas next Saturday or wait three weeks for the (G1) Northerly Stakes (1800m). I would probably rather go three weeks with a 3yo filly against all-comers on the weight-for-age scale.”
Neville and Susan Duncan bought her Canadian-bred dam Pure Purity through Belmont Bloodstock agent Damon Gabbedy for $140,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast. She was offered by Vinery and changed hands carrying Pure Excess who is by its Exceed And Excel sire Exceedance.
“She’s a talented filly and I felt she would get a strong mile,” winning jockey Steven Parnham said. “We were exposed three deep but I had the one to beat just where I wanted. She knuckled down and her effort late was really good.”
Oakland Park started a successful week with free-wheeling maiden winner Acorn at Bunbury on Thursday. He’s by resident stallion Sessions and was never headed to score eased down under Willie Pike.
On Sunday, Sessions sired a Geraldton double with Supersession (Batavia Sprint) and Bolta (Regional Championship Heat: The Road To Ascot). The $125,000 Batavia Sprint (1200m) is the feature short-course event of the season in the mid-west and Tash Faithful timed Supersession’s run to perfection while splitting runners in the straight to nail On The Mark (Shooting To Win).
