Oak Door Comes Knocking in Sir John Monash

Mark Smith - Saturday July 13

Making his first start since October last year, the 5yo Commands gelding Oak Door ran down a gallant Jungle Edge in Saturday's Group III Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

Carrying the confidence of the John Sadler stable starting at 30/1, Oak Door under Ben Melham was kept within Striking distance of the freewheeling Jungle Edge (Dubawi) but it took him the length of the straight to edge past the $1.4 million earner by a head with Princess of Queens (Magnus) one length back in third in what may be her last run before visiting I Am Invincible. (images Grant Courtney )

Advertisement


Oak Door had won just once since capturing the Group II Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield as a 3yo back in January 2017.

His second stakes success advances his record to 6 wins, 3 seconds and 2 thirds from 23 starts with earnings of $423,740.

"We were very confident, he only worry was he hasn't raced for so long, "stable representative Ernie Marchant said.

"I said to Ben earlier that the race would map out perfectly, the toppy will lead and you'll get a perfect run across, he loves the going but will be vulnerable late, give him a Benny Melham special and he'll get the money.

"I'm so excited for the owners they have been so patient and what a training effort on John's behalf.

He is only going to get better from here, we are going have to manage him, obviously but that was a fantastic effort after such a long time off."


A $350,000 purchase by Aquanita Racing from the Raheen Stud draft at the 2015 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Oak Door was the second most expensive yearling by his sire that year.

He is the second live foal and second winner out the smart racemare Beyonce's Star (Orientate) whose five wins include the Listed BRC Just Now Handicap.

Beyonce's Star's granddam Solo Performance (Without Fear) won the Group III Merson Cooper Stakes and was runner-up in the Group I Blue Diamond Stakes.

Beyonce's Star has a yearling colt and weanling colt by Sebring and was covered by Zoustar last spring.

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.
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.
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.
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?
Empire Rose Goal for Melody Belle
Reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year Melody Belle will head across the Tasman in the coming weeks after becoming the first horse to win the Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown at Hastings on Saturday.
Kiwi Superstar Melody Belle Primed for Flemington
A sparkling trackwork gallop at Flemington on Tuesday has given Matamata trainer Jamie Richards all the assurance he wanted from stable star Melody Belle as she heads in to Saturday's Group I  $A1 million Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).
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.
Hunter Valley Host Latest Round of Thoroughbred Sport Horse Jumping
The latest round of Thoroughbred Sport Horse Association classes were run at the Hunter Valley Spring Jumping Championships last weekend with Darley’s late champion sire Commands not only siring a Group I winner at Flemington on Derby Day, but also a winner over the jumps at this event.
Eighth Group I for Kiwi Horse of the Year Melody Belle
Recently crowned New Zealand Horse of the Year, Melody Belle made it Group One victory number eight in emphatic fashion when she dominated her rivals in the Group I Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings.
NZ Horse of the Year Melody Belle Makes History
Megastar Melody Belle earned two slices of New Zealand racing history on Saturday with another commanding performance in the Group I Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings.