Australia's buzz filly Shez All Rock heads to the All Stars’ barn on Monday.
And she makes the trip having become the first filly to complete the NSW and Victoria Oaks double since the brilliant Jane Ellen way back in 1989.
Just for good measure, Shez All Rock smashed the race record winning last Friday night’s $150,000 Group 1 Victoria Oaks narrowly, but oh so impressively.
Her 1min55.1sec mile rate for 2240m took 0.6sec off the race record her jointly by Miss Graceland (last year) and Barynya (2014).
“I thought she was better going into the final than the heat and knew she’d need to be. I expected a real contest tonight and she got it,” trainer-driver Mark Pitt said.
“She had to do a fair bit to get to the front and then we kept rolling when Nostra Villa came up alongside me.
“She gave a great kick rounding the home bend and kept finding when the second filly came at me.”
Shez All Rock’s lead time was a very fast 43.7sec then she ran through the middle half in 60sec and 28.3sec between the 800-400m. She was still able to reel-off a 28.3sec closing quarter.
Emma Stewart’s much-improved filly Speak No Evil improved again of her heat win to sustain a big three-wide around the field and get within a neck of the winner in record time.
Although Pitt temporarily hands over the training of Shez All Rock, he will be trackside when she tackles the Group 1 NZ Oaks at Addington for the All Stars barn on May 15.
“I’ll be there for sure. I might go to the Jewels as well if she runs there,” he said.
Pitt said the plan was for Shez All Rock to return to his stable after the Jewels to chase the Vicbred and Breeders Crown at Melton to round-out the season.
Australia’s other top filly, Soho Burning Love, had to be content with yet another minor placing behind Shez All Rock, but she stormed home late for an eye-catching third in last Friday’s Victoria Oaks.
She now seems unlikely to head to the NZ Oaks with owner Rob Watson declaring an intention to take her to the Group 1 WA Oaks at Gloucester Park next Friday night.
An NZ trip is tricky for Soho Burning Love as Shez All Rock would surely rate above her for the Aussie invite to the Harness Jewels.
That means Soho Burning Love would seemingly have to win the NZ Oaks to earn enough stakemoney to snare a spot in the Jewels.
Adam Hamilton