Ready to Run Purchase on Track for NZ Oaks

Media Release - Wednesday March 15

Sakura Girl will chase the first leg of a major trans-Tasman double for Cambridge trainer Ben Foote at Trentham on Saturday.

The in-form daughter of Iffraaj is the pre-post favourite for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) while stablemate Babylon Berlin is in Melbourne to prepare for Friday week’s Gr.1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

Sakura Girl will contest the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Trish Dunell

Sakura Girl has enjoyed a trouble-free build-up and jumped to the top of the Oaks market following a decisive front-running victory in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m) and Foote has no concerns about the extra distance.

“You never know until they try, but I would very much doubt there will be any trouble at all, she’s such a big, strong horse,” he said.

“I’m really happy and everything has been faultless with her, no hiccups whatsoever.

“The Oaks is one race I’ve always wanted to win, it’s one of a handful right at the top of my list.”

Sakura Girl is raced by Andy Lau and Ross Lao of Upper Bloodstock, who purchased her for $260,000 out of Riverrock Farm’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft.

“We’ve all become very good friends and done a lot of business together and bought a lot of horses again this year,” Foote said.

Should Sakura Girl’s hot run of form continue at Trentham, she will also be in line for a trip further afield.

“More than likely it will be Australia, I haven’t looked into it too much but maybe we’ll look at the Oaks (Gr.1, 2000m) in Adelaide,” Foote said.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, last-start Gr.3 King’s Plate (1200m) runaway winner and multiple Group One placegetter Babylon Berlin safely landed in Melbourne in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

“She arrived just after midnight and travelled really well so everything is looking good,” Foote said.

“She will go to Moonee Valley on Monday morning for a gallop, it will be good for her to have a look around there.”

All going well in the William Reid, the speedy daughter of All Too Hard will head to Western Australia for the inaugural running of the A$4 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot on April 15.

“If she runs up to her form, there’s a very good chance she will fly to Perth on April 3,” Foote said. “I think the track will suit her style of racing as well.”

Babylon Berlin travelled to Australia in the care of Foote’s son Ryan, who may join his father in partnership in the future.

“It’s there for him and he’s a very good horseman. I wanted him to get out and about first and not tie him down here unless he really wanted that,” he said.

“He’s very keen and only just got back from Melbourne last week after working at the sales, he’s had a few trips in the last six months.

“He worked for Ohukia Lodge at the Sydney and New Zealand Ready to Run Sales, Bhima Thoroughbreds at the Gold Coast, Carlaw Park at Karaka (yearling sale) and Maluka Thoroughbreds in Melbourne.” – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Breeding to Win - 2025 G1 Memsie Stakes
The big guns step out and spring is on in earnest when the Memsie (1400m WFA) rolls around and what a cracking field we have in 2025 for the first G1 of the Southern spring with 11 runners and 10 are G1 winners!
Stars on Show at Caulfield Spring Opener
The 2025 Victorian Spring Racing Carnival officially bursts out of the gates this Saturday with the Stow Storage Caulfield Spring Opener, headlined by the first Group 1 of the season, the $750,000 Stow Storage Memsie Stakes.
Damask Rose Looking to Kickstart Te Akau Melbourne Spring
Te Akau Racing are building a strong record in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m), and they will look to continue that at Caulfield on Saturday when Damask Rose takes her place in this year’s edition.
G1 Plan for Kiwi Sprinter Niance
Six-year-old mare Niance will kick off a new campaign when she lines up in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on Saturday week.
New Stakes-Winner for Iffraaj
Exciting galloper Sakura Girl presented her trainer Ben Foote and rider Kozzi Asano with the second leg of a winning stakes double at Te Rapa on Saturday when she cruised to victory in the Gr.3 McKee Family Sunline Vase (2100m).
Via Sistina Honoured at NSW Horse of the Year
One of the greatest seasons of all time has secured Via Sistina the TAB NSW Champion Horse of the Year award. The Chris Waller-trained mare was recognised at Racing’s Night of Champions for her outstanding performance in 2024/2025 which included equalling Winx’s record of seven Group 1s in a single season.
Vale, Naturale
On our recent trip to Victoria for the stallion parades we had the pleasure of staying at Gilgai Farm where we met the lovely Naturale, the unraced sister to Black Caviar, who had a difficult life and achieved fame and fortune as the dam of champion sire Ole Kirk.
Another Kiwi Filly Seeking Aussie Oaks Success
Trainer Ben Foote is determined to regroup from two successive Group One disappointments.
Ruling Court Dies of Laminitis
Hugely talented Justify colt Ruling Court has been a headline horse since May last year when Godolphin paid €2.3million for him at the Arqana Breeze Up Sale and he is back in the headlines overnight with the tragic news of his euthanasia due to laminitis.
One to Watch – Gosford
He’s big and beautiful and it looks like the patient approach might be about to pay off for this talented I Am Invincible four year-old who won on debut at Gosford on Friday.