Godolphin’s Teofilo (IRE) filly Honeycreeper could finish no better than third in the Tasmanian Oaks but will head to Randwick next week with a favourites chance in the ATC Australian Oaks after annihilating a field of three-year-old fillies in Saturday’s Group III Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.
Ridden by Hugh Bowman for James Cummings, Honeycreeper revelled in the heavy conditions. The further they went, the further she increased her margin, which stopped at three and a quarter lengths ahead of the Cable Bay (IRE) filly Charity Spirit with a further three lengths back to Godolphin’s Medaglia d’Oro (USA) filly Mamounia in third.
Honeycreeper has covered plenty of ground in her 11-start career.
A maiden winner at Newcastle at two, the daughter of Teofilo owns placings at Warwick Farm, Randwick, Cranbourne and Launceston. She started an odd-n favourite in the Tasmanian Oaks after winning over 1600m at Sandown.
Bowman was impressed by the win and put his hand up for the ride in the Oaks.
“She won well, she was in a beautiful rhythm. I thought the pace wasn’t frantic, but it was genuine, particularly for this type of ground, it was very testing,” Bowman said.
She seemed to travel through it very well, and they were starting to peel off the fence. I had a lap full of horse and I just let her increase within herself and found myself on the back of the leading bunch, and she did the rest.
“I presume she’s in the Oaks next Saturday and funnily enough I don’t have a ride, so who would’ve thought.”
James Cummings said Honeycrepper was likely to back up nest week.
She got up in very dominant fashion to suggest she’s got to be an Oaks contender off the back of that,” Cummings said.
“Acceptances are 8am Tuesday morning I think, so we’ve got a few days to make sure we’re happy with her.
“We’ll take the entire week to make sure she’s perfect before we head down that path. But heavy 9 today over a mile and a quarter and we’re talking about a mile and a half AJC Oaks next Saturday, it’s certainly going to look like a pretty good lead-up to that isn’t it.”
Honeycreeper is the first foal of the talented Lonhro mare Painted Firetail, whose dam Blue Finch (Anabaa) is a half-sister to Group 1 Middle Park Stakes winner Zieten (Danzig) and Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Blue Duster (Danzig).
Painted Firetail has a 2yo Sidestep colt named Serin and a weanling filly by Epaulette. She was covered by Exceed And Excel last spring.
Honeycreeper is the 103rd black-type winner for former Darley shuttler Teofilo (IRE).
