His mare Roots, trained by Chris Waller and ridden by James McDonald, was successful in the $250,000 Inglis Bracelet (1600m), restricted to graduates of thoroughbred auction house Inglis.
“It was a well-deserved win, she didn’t get much luck last start but she’s racing consistently well," Waller said. “It was a nice ride from James, as we get used to seeing, and that was a big help as well.
“She showed us ability as a three-year-old, but we’re just taking our time now that she’s turned four. It’s been a good confidence-building exercise, this preparation.”
A competitive group of three-year-old sprinting fillies contested the $300,000 Group 3 10 News First Red Roses Stakes (1100m) with South Australia’s Aitch Two Oh causing an upset for trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly. She managed to fend off a couple of other fillies at double figures, La Danseuse Rouge and Bay Thirteen, to take the prize.
"She was electric," said McDonald, who picked up the ride after original jockey Jake Toeroek was stuck in Adelaide due to flight delays, giving him a treble on the card. "She bounced really well, she was really tenacious and wanted to get on with the job. It was a really good win and she toughed it out really well."
A previous Oaks-winning horseman, Kris Lees, returned to Flemington for his first Kennedy Oaks Day victory in eight years. Lees, successful in the 2008 Oaks with Samantha Miss, took out the $175,000 Listed Off the Track Desirable Stakes (1400m) with Razeta racing clear under Hugh Bowman.
“He doesn’t bring them here to make up the numbers, he’s an excellent trainer, places them well and it’s a pleasure to ride for him.” - Hugh Bowman on Kris Lees
Ironically, Razeta is a half-sister to Lees' last Oaks Day winner, Onemorezeta.
"Thinking back to when Samantha Miss won the Oaks, it was my first Group 1 in Melbourne, so I’ve got a long association with the stable," Bowman said. “He doesn’t bring them here to make up the numbers, he’s an excellent trainer, places them well and it’s a pleasure to ride for him.”
Warrnambool trainer Matthew Williams landed the most lucrative success of his career when taking the $500,000 Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m) with promising mare Toregene, ridden by comeback jockey Dean Yendall.
“She’s done a really good job and she’s still not the furnished product yet," Williams said. "You could see midrace she was still just wanting to get up on the bridle there a bit strong - I reckon Deano might have a broken tooth, he would have been gritting his teeth a little bit - but she’s definitely got good ability and is on the right path.”