NZ Oaks Possible for Debut Winner

Media Release - Thursday January 30

A $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) path is on the cards for Waverley filly Twisted Love following her debut win in the Agfirst (1650m) at her home track on Wednesday.

While Oaks campaigns are nothing new to Thurlow, having trained Beyond The Fort to a runner-up result in the 2019 edition of the Classic, this one will have added sentimental value for the South Taranaki horseman, with Twisted Love being owned by his daughters Emma and Jamie.

Oaks contender Twisted Love winning the Agfirst (1650m) at Waverley on Wednesday.   Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

The siblings purchased the daughter of Vanbrugh out of Seaton Park’s 2023 Book 2 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft for $17,000, and Thurlow said they have been impressed with her from day one.

“My daughters bought her and they just loved the way she walked,” Thurlow said. “We went through a lot of horses at the sale, and she was just a lovely mover and she fitted their budget.

“We have always thought that she was a good horse, but it has just taken a while for her to mature enough, and she is still probably not quite there. She is a big horse, so we have had to be very careful with how we have handled her.

“She is the one filly we nominated for the Oaks. We always thought she was an Oaks type of filly so that’s what we will be aiming for.”

Twisted Love went into her debut off the back of a runner-up effort in a 1000m trial at Foxton a fortnight ago and Thurlow was confident of a bold showing on Wednesday, and she duly delivered, running home late from the back of the pack to score a half length victory over Girl Talk.

“It actually went almost to script because we knew that from gate one at the mile start at Waverley can be very difficult if you are not a really fast beginner, so we knew she would probably get back,” Thurlow said. “Craig (Grylls, jockey) did a really good job, he planned it out pretty well and once she got to the outside, she has got a lovely, big stride and got there pretty easily in the end.”

Thurlow said Twisted Love is a very similar filly to Beyond The Fort, and he will likely follow her blueprint into the Oaks and look for one final mile lead in to the rich Trentham feature.

“We will probably just give her another mile somewhere, but we haven’t worked it out yet,” he said. “We won’t be rushing, we have got time, she is a filly that won’t need a lot of racing.

Advertisement

“She went into yesterday off a jump out and a trial and was very impressive. We know that we can take our time with her and find a nice race with her.”

Thurlow is excited his daughters have a quality filly on their hands, with the sisters enjoying the sport outside of their busy farming schedules.

“They enjoy it (racing) and they like dabbling in it,” he said.

“They have got their own business where they rear a lot of calves and have got their own farms they run. They are doing well in life.”

It was a pleasing day of results for Thurlow, who scored a treble on the eight-race card, with stablemates Rebel Agent and Steal My Thunder winning the Wanganui Well Drillers (1650m) and Lowe Environmental Impact (1400m) respectively.

Meanwhile, he was active at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale earlier this week, purchasing two fillies, both by freshman sire Wild Ruler.

Thurlow went to $60,000 to secure lot 624, the filly out of a half-sister to stakes winner Bello Beau, from Mapperley Stud’s draft, and went to the same figure to secure lot 644, the filly out of a half-sister to Group One winner MacO’Reilly, from Ardsley Stud’s draft.

“I bought a couple of fillies by Wild Ruler and we are happy with them. We will get them home, break them in and see where we end up,” he said.

“He (Wild Ruler) is a Snitzel horse and he is a very good horse. They (progeny) are only yearlings and he has had a good start at Newgate, so he is a real chance.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - AgFirst Mdn 1650m

Waverley Track: Good(3) Time: 1:41.79
1
Twisted Love
- 3f Vanbrugh (AUS) x Queen Of Avalon (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: W J Thurlow Rdr: C J Grylls 55.5
NZB Karaka Book 2 $17,000
Seller: Seaton Park Ltd
Buyer: Mr WJ Thurlow
2
0.5
Girl Talk
- 3f Zed (NZ) x Gossiping (NZ) (Al Akbar (AUS))
Tnr: S Nickalls Rdr: K R Hercock 55.5
3
0.6
Lucid Dream
- 3f Wyndspelle (NZ) x Morse Code (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: Kevin & Stephen Gray Rdr: U A Holmquist 55.5
4
0.9
Joan's Joker
- 3g Eminent (IRE) x Dance All Day (NZ) (Cullen (AUS))
Tnr: G R Vile Rdr: Ashvin Mudhoo 57.5
5
1.3
Coulthard
- 3g Redwood (GB) x Best Of British (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: J K Riddell 58.5
6
6.3
Rithim
- 3f Time Test (GB) x Miss Rhythmic (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: Harry Grace 55.5
7
6.4
Platinum Tyche
- 3f Redwood (GB) x Nouveau Amour (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: K Chowdhoory 55.5
8
7.5
Derryman
- 3g Derryn (AUS) x The Second Lady (NZ) (Cape Blanco (IRE))
Tnr: S A Sharrock Rdr: L Sutherland 57.5
9
9.3
Turn And Peek
- 3f Turn Me Loose (NZ) x Peek A Boo (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: Ms J Millar Rdr: C Dell 55.5
10
14.3
Porotene Bubbles
- 3f Derryn (AUS) x Porotene Diva (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: G H Sharrock Rdr: C R Barnes 55.5
11
187.1
Westside Gunn
- 3g Almanzor (FR) x Pray For Paris (GB) (Champs Elysees (GB))
Tnr: G N Nicholson Rdr: M K Hudson 57.5
More Reading...
Hat-Trick for Trelawney Stud Blueblood Filly
Well-related Trelawney Stud filly Madiyya signed off her three-year-old season with a third straight win, this time over 1600m in the A$150,000 Rod Griffiths Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday.
Research on Equliume Light Mask
Don’t take our word for granted ….. Research on the Equilume Light mask for the pregnant mare and foal
Aussie Bred Trifecta in G3 Sha Tin Vase
Toronado (IRE) gelding Helios Express led home a tricta for Aussie bred sprinters in the Group III Sha Tin Vase (1200m) on Saturday defeating Invincible Sage (Thronum) and Patch of Theta (Zoustar).
OTI Racing Acquire Oaks Prospect
Australian syndicator OTI Racing have added a $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) contender to their New Zealand racing arsenal after securing promising filly Twisted Love last week.
The Secret is Out!
He has big shoes to fill as a half-brother to a $12million earner, but there is no secret about his ability! 
New Classic Prospect and New Aussie 2YO Winner for Wootton Bassett
The Group III JRA Derby Trial (2000m) at Baden Baden in Germany overnight produced a new stakes-winner for Wootton Bassett (GB) with lightly raced colt Juwelier staking a claim for classic success.
When in Doubt Back a Frankel!
The $200,000 Listed ATC Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m ) at Rosehill on Saturday attracted a competitive field of 14 stayers, the bulk of them imports and when you strike an open race like that it’s often wise to follow this piece of advice – when in doubt back a Frankel!
Magic Justify x Fastnet Rock Cross Strikes in Hong Kong
With Justify’s very best son City of Troy (USA) shuttling to Coolmore Australia this spring it’s worth remembering the power of the Justify x Fastnet Rock nick and we saw it to the fore at Sha Tin on Saturday when Australian bred four year-old Pray for Mir took out the Group III The Lion Rock Trophy (1600m).
Niance Overcomes Serious Injury to Claim Stakes Victory
Exciting New Zealand-bred mare Niance has bounced back from a serious injury and picked up right where she left off last spring, collecting her third consecutive black-type win in Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Sires With Winners - Saturday May 31
Here is the full list of 116 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.