Oaks Contender for Pencarrow Stud

Media Release - Thursday March 20

While distance may be a query for Island Life in Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m), the talented filly has given Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie every reason to attempt the million-dollar Classic.

Racing in the colours of Sir Peter Vela’s Pencarrow Stud, Island Life has done little wrong in her three-year-old season, placing behind Tuxedo in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) and Real Class in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m).

Island Life is among the favourites in Saturday's Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m).  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

The Oaks was always the long-term goal for Vadamos (Fr) filly Island Life, and a professional display on Champions Day to take out the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m) sealed the deal. 

“It was very exciting and after watching the race quite a few times, she actually did it quite easily,” Ritchie said. “Mick Dee (jockey) was pretty soft on her in the finish to be fair.

“She can be quite awkward and can get on the bit in her races, so it’s always been a race-by-race process with her. We entered her earlier on hoping that she would learn to settle, and she settled beautifully in the Sunline. They didn’t go that hard early, so it was really pleasing to see her do that without cover and finish off really well.

“Her recovery that day after the race was really quick and she pulled up very well. We’ve been very happy with her since, she’s eating well and is very, very bright, particularly this morning (Thursday) at the track.

“It’s just a matter of now getting her down there safely and at 100 percent.”

A stakes victory over 2100m bodes well for Saturday’s staying test, which will determine whether the daughter of Vadamos heads to the paddock or considers other options this campaign.

“It is a huge question mark over 2400m, she’s going to have to settle and relax well, but you’re only three once and she tries her heart out,” Ritchie said.

“We don’t have any plans after this and at this stage it’s the end of her prep, but she has come through the Sunline Vase very well and it would depend what she did on Saturday whether we go on to something else.”

The Matamata trainers are no strangers to success on the champagne turf and can’t wait to have a shot at the seven-figure stake, albeit while being wary of the hot-favourite Leica Lucy.  

“It’s the biggest prize-money we’ve ever run for and it’s exciting to be racing for a million dollars, that’s for sure,” Ritchie said.

“We love going to Wellington, it’s been a very good track to us and we’ve had a lot of success down there so it’s great to be involved.

Advertisement

“Leica Lucy has been absolutely phenomenal in all of her starts so far and something would have to go pretty wrong for us to be able to beat her, but it’s a horse race and anything can happen. There are other promising fillies in there as well and they’ve all got to stay.”

Leica Lucy currently dominates the Oaks market at $1.50, with Myakkabelle ($10) and Island Life ($14) her closest rivals.

Following Saturday’s showpiece, the stable will travel up the road to Tauherenikau where they will have three representatives at the Sunday meeting.

Three-year-old filly Sonata got on the board at Taupo last-start and will look for a repeat performance as a key hope in the Kuripuni Sports Bar and TAB (1400m).

“She bounced through that race, she could’ve lined up the following week,” Ritchie said.

“She’s a hard case little horse, she just needs to be left alone to find her rhythm, but we’ve been really happy with her so she should hopefully go close again.”

Shavasana narrowly missed claiming her maiden at the course in early February, and off a brief freshen-up, will take her place in the Liquorland Masterton/Matahiwi Estate (1000m).

“She’s gone really well, we gave her a little break after that with a week in the paddock and she’s come back extremely bright,” Ritchie said.

“Hopefully she can get away from the barriers a little bit better, it was her first time in blinkers last time. She’s definitely heading in the right direction so hopefully a win is close.”

Completing their trio is first-starter Powerofpersuasion, a filly by Ten Sovereigns with plenty of trials experience under her belt heading into the Dinger Natural Stone (1400m).

“She’s going to be a nice staying filly, she’s got a lot to learn and we thought this was a nice soft option for her,” Ritchie said. “She’ll grow up a lot too with the trip away.

“It is a watch and see with her, but she is a beautiful type and hopefully she’ll be a nice filly in time.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Spring Trial Watch – Everest Contenders on Show
The Rosehill trials on Thursday morning featured a couple of key Everest contenders with Private Harry winning easily over speedy 3YO North England, while Lady Shenandoah was under a tight grip to finish third in a later heat.
Up and Coming Well Named - So Who Are These Guys?
The $250,000 Group III ATC Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday is a race well named with a field of eight colts and geldings set to line up and while none are stakes-winners yet, one of them will be after the weekend.
Sire Power Highlights Quality MM Horses in Training Catalogue
An incredible selection of the country's best proven and hottest young sires will feature at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale in October.
Tara Talks Racing – Stallion Parades, Old Legends and a Weekend Tip
We’re back in podcast land as the spring unfolds with plenty to talk about following our recent run of visits to the stallion parades, so what stallions did we like?
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.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 27
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Promising Winner and a Star on the Rise
One of the bargain priced sires on the Newgate Farm roster, Cosmic Force has never lacked for company covering 100 plus books of mares in each of his five seasons at stud so far totalling nearly 700 mares.
Melbourne Cup Dreaming for Kiwi Stayer
Peter and Shaun McKay are dreaming of a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) tilt with their quality stayer Wolfgang, and he will start his journey towards the iconic feature at Wanganui on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 28
Here is the full list of 33 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Vadamos Filly Wins G3 Sunline Vase for Pencarrow
Ex-pat Kiwi rider Michael (Mick) Dee gained early success on his latest race day return to his homeland when he guided favourite Island Life to victory in the Gr. 3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie.