Oakland Park owner-breeders Neville and Susan Duncan won a WATC Derby with Shirazamatazz (Barathea) when it was a Group 1 in 2003 and the fact it’s just been demoted to a Group 3 won’t stop them setting Moose for the classic later this season.
Moose won the Country Comfort Maiden (1400m) at Bunbury on Wednesday like a quality stayer going forward and trainer Dan Morton has already put in motion an autumn prep for the WATC Derby (2400m) at Ascot in April.
Huge as his moniker suggests, Moose (Photo / Western Racepix) started a $2.70 favourite after putting the writing on the wall on debut at Bunbury last month. The 3yo gelding travelled under a hold six lengths from free-wheeling Sundae Swirl (Splintex) yesterday before coming off the fence for Brad Parnham at the 600m mark.
He collared the leader into the straight and won well in hand by a length from Tex ‘N’ Cee (Splintex). “He’s a beautiful, big horse and it was a smart ride by Brad,” Morton said. “He has all the right attributes and will come back on a path to the Derby.”
Oakland Park bred him using former Irish-bred Darley shuttler Blue Point (Shamardal) over Love Ends (Domesday) who is an unraced three-quarter sister to G1 MRC Toorak Hcp (1600m) winner Red Dazzler (Red Ransom).
“We knew he had ability and it worked out well,” Parnham reported after weighing in. “I angled into the clear early because he’s a big striding horse and he did it easily. He stargazed once in front and there’s obviously a lot more to him.”
Oakland Park completed a double later in the day when its homebred filly Flying In The Wind was a very impressive odds-on winner of the Gen X Engineering Maiden (1200m) for trainer Adam Durrant. The 3yo debutante is a Maschino half-sister to Sail Session (Sessions) who was a Listed winner of last year’s John Roberts Stakes (1800m) and Melvista Stakes (2200m).
Their dam Unfurl (Raise The Flag) has a bottom-half pedigree infused with staying blood from New Zealand’s South Island and she could also be classic-bound next year for the G3 WA Oaks (2400m) at Ascot in March.
