Is Aloisia Another Oaks Winner for Azamour? Bookies Think So

Mark Smith - Sunday October 29

It was perhaps unfortunate for connections the $200,000 Group II Moonee Valley Vase was programmed as the last race of the day because the huge crowd was still buzzing about the performance of Winx when Aloisia turned in the most dominant performance of the day.

The only filly to take on the boys, the daughter of Azamour(IRE) tracked last start Group III Ladbroke Classic winner Cliff's Edge (Canford Cliffs) in to the straight before disposing of him with the minimum of effort to win by three and a half lengths with Salsamor (Tavistock) five and a half lengths back in third. (photo Grant Courtney)

Carrying the colours of OTI Racing, the former New Zealand-trained mare advances her record to three wins and two seconds with earnings of $612,865.

Advertisement

A last start winner of the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m), Aloisia is now the odds-on favourite to win the VRC Oaks on Thursday week.


"Can't wait to get to Flemington now," winning rider Luke Nolen said.

She's not overly big, she's got a deep girth and a long stride and a bit of mongrel in her, which takes her a long way."

Aaron Purcell, who took over the training of Aloisia from the suspended Ciaron Maher before the Thousand Guineas, said the best will be seen as the distances increase.

She's a horse that was always going to be better once she hit 2000 metres or more. This is her first time at 2000 metres and she showed what a class filly she is.

"The Oaks was always her goal and everything she has done this time in shows she is right on track."

Passed in when failing to make her $60,000 reserve when consigned by Brighthill Farm to the 2016 NZB Select Yearling Sale, Aloisia made two starts in New Zealand where she caught the eye of bloodstock agent Phil Cataldo who brokered a deal with OTI Racing.

She is out of stakes-placed Perfectly Ready mare Queen Boudicca, who has a 2yo filly by Keeper named Wyetta and a yearling colt by Swiss Ace.

Queen Boudicca was covered by Dalghar (FR) last spring.

Aloisia comes from the first and final New Zealand conceived crop left by the Aga Khan's Night Shift stallion Azamour who won the St James's Palace Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes as a three-year-old, before taking the Prince Of Wales's Stakes and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes as a four-year-old.

Retired to Gilltown Stud in 2006, Azamour shuttled for the first time to Brighthill Stud in New Zealand for the Southern Hemisphere season in 2013.

Tragically he died the following year at Gilltown Stud.

Azamour has two Oaks winners to his credit already.

Covert Love won the 2015 Irish Oaks and Valyra won the 2012 French Oaks.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Kiwi Sires a Recipe for NZB Ready to Run Sale Success
Much of the NZB Ready to Run Sale’s extraordinary success has been underpinned by the stallions that have stood in New Zealand in recent decades.
Four Winners for Dennis
Local trainer Robert Dennis won half of the eight-race card at Ascot Park on Friday, culminating with a special win by Sir Sterling in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m).
Who Was Flight?
A G1 race since 1984, the Flight Stakes is a race won by special fillies - often the ones who go on to do extraordinary things on the track against all comers as older mares and that's as it should be as Hall Of Fame legend Flight exemplified that style of thoroughbred.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Darley Flight Stakes
The prestigious Darley Princess Series reaches its crescendo this week with the 77th running of the $750,000 G1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) over Royal Randwick's famous mile.
Recent success highlights Inglis Digital October (Early) Sale
A range of exciting racing and breeding prospects – as well as a number of in-form racehorses and shares in Stakes winners – headline the Inglis Digital October (Early) Online Sale.
Mogumber Park hoists wet sail with Marine One
This time last year, the first foals by Mogumber Park stallion Marine One were widely regarded as some of the best types on the ground in Western Australia.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
We had three heats for 2YO’s run at Warwick Farm on Friday morning over 815m with winners by Farnan, Ole Kirk and Kia Ora Stud’s first season sire Captivant, while Stay Inside had an impressive trial winner at Murray Bridge.
Captivant Colt Shines at Warwick Farm Trials
Captivant’s burgeoning reputation for producing precocious 2YOs took another leap forward at today’s Warwick Farm trials, with Courthezon powering to victory in Heat 10.
2YO Stakes Racing – Sale Mail
Three stakes races for new season juveniles add plenty of interest to a stellar day of racing this Saturday in Sydney and Melbourne, so let’s take a look at the Sale Mail for these races.
New Stakes-Winner for Zoustar
The $150,000 Listed Hannan’s Handicap (1400m) provided reigning champion sire Zoustar with a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding Multinational led for home and could not be caught.