The imported Oasis Dream mare Turaath (GB) continued on her remarkable rise since joining the stables of Maddie Raymond when downing the Tasmanian stars Mystic Journey and Still A Star in the $300,000 Group III Furphy Let's Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Despite being caught wide, Turaath (GB) displayed a superior turn of foot to defeat Mystic Journey (Needs Further) by a length and a quarter with Still A Star (Toronado) a neck back in third.
It was a first stakes success for Turaath (GB), who made it four consecutive wins.
Turaath (GB) advances her record to five wins, a second and two thirds from 13 starts with earnings of $368,810.
"I'm still shaking. I had to catch my breath coming down here. I'm super excited," Raymond said.
"She's such a tough mare. She didn't do it easy again. She sat out wide with no cover, and she was rock hard fit and super competitive.
"She stepped just half a stride slow. We did think she'd settle wide with cover, which didn't work out either. She was super fit going into it. Such a tough, honest horse.
"We’ve been looking for a reason not to come (to the races today) and give her a break but she’s so tough. If anything you treat her like a colt. She eats well, she thrives off her work and she’s shown that today.”
Raymond will not commit to chasing the $1million bonus on offer if she wins the Empire Rose Stakes.
“We won’t make any decisions now. The way she relaxed today - even in the mounting yard and out the back - she’s definitely improving. That’s not to say that we won’t, but we’ll get her home and have a chat to the owners and go from there.”
Raymond met Turaath’s owner John Nicholls in Dubai.
The former Sydney trainer runs the quarantine facility there. He had purchased Turaath for 35,000gns at the 2020 Tattersalls December Mares Sale.
The Shadwell homebred had just one win, on the all-weather at Newcastle, from seven starts,
After placing at Warrnambool and Geelong, Turaath (GB) broke through at Sandown in July.
The mare’s dam Fadhayyil won the Listed City Of York Stakes and placed in the Group II Rockfel Stakes and Group III Jersey Stakes.
Fadhayyil is a half-sister to three stakes winners out of the dual Group III winner Ziria (Danehill Dancer).
Turaath (GB) becomes the 127th stakes-winner for Juddmonte Farms stalwart Oasis Dream.
