Next Stop the Oaks for Reliable Man's Wakeful Stakes Winner Miami Bound

Mark Smith - Saturday November 2

Two New Zealand-breds that look certain to play a major part in next Thursday’s $1,00,000 Group 1 Kennedy (Victoria) Oaks fought out the finish of Saturday’s $300,000 Group II G.H. Mumm Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington and were promptly made equal favourites for the Classic.

The Reliable Man (GB) filly Miami Bound earned her first stakes win, while crediting Damien Oliver with a record of 73 carnival wins, when she fought off the challenge of the lightly raced Shocking filly Vegas Jewel by a neck.

It was a further six lengths back to the Sebring filly Palumbo who came off a maiden win at Pakenham to claim third at the expense of the Group 1 Thousand Guineas winner Flit.

Miami Bound Edges Vegas Jewel - image Steve Hart

Made a Breednet One To Watch when she broke her maiden at Bendigo back in August, Miami Bound finished third behind Moonlight Maid in the Group II Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington on October 5 and came in to the Wakeful off the back of a fourth behind Victoria Derby hopeful Thought Of That in the Group III Caulfield Classic.

Damien Oliver was elated at his personal milestone.

“It’s a huge thrill, not something I really thought of before the race, but yeah, it’s fantastic. A lot of history at this place and it’s pretty unreal to think that you’ve been the most successful person here over 150 years” Oliver said.

Winning trainer Danny O’Brien said his filly has genuine excuses for being beaten at her past two starts.

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“We’ve had this in mind for 12 months to go Wakeful – Oaks and everything has gone to plan and we’ve got the first one out of the race today and hopefully she can come back on Thursday and be right in the finish of the Oaks,” O’Brien said.

“She’s started favourite at her last two and had reasons when beaten. The nice even gallop and strong staying test suited her, so she’s had a perfect preparation for the 2500 metres next Thursday.” 

Purchased by O'Brien Thoroughbreds out of the Westbury Stud draft for $120,000 out of book 1 at Karaka in 2018, Miami Bound advances her record to three wins and two from six starts with earnings of $282,750

The daughter of the French Derby and ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Reliable Man has a real Oaks pedigree being a daughter of the 2007 VRC Oaks heroine Arapaho Miss (Danehill Dancer) who has five of six named foals to race with five winners, which include the $713,000 earner De Little Engine (Encosta De Lago) who won the Listed VRC Andrew Ramsden Stakes over 3200 metres.

Miami Bound becomes the ninth stakes-winner for Westbury Stud’s Reliable Man (GB) who already has an Oaks winner in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks heroine Sentimental Miss.

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Race Result - Wakeful Stakes Gr2 2000m

Flemington Track: Soft(6) Time: 2:04.48
1
Miami Bound
- 3f Reliable Man (GB) x Arapaho Miss (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: D Oliver 55
2
0.3
Vegas Jewel
- 3f Shocking (AUS) x Vegas Dancer (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: M A Kavanagh Rdr: Jordan Childs 55
3
6.3
Palumbo
- 3f Sebring (AUS) x Charming Ruby (AUS) (Rubiton (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: Ms L J Meech 55
Sebring
4
6.5
Flit
- 3f Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Glissade (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Bowman 58
5
7.3
Foxborough
- 3f Dissident (AUS) x Sense Of Pride (CAN) (Lemon Drop Kid (USA))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: M J Walker 55
6
7.6
Silent Sovereign
- 3f Dalakhani (IRE) x Silent Surround (AUS) (Face Value (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: Jamie Kah 55
7
9.6
Magazine
- 3f Savabeel (AUS) x Vogue (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 55
8
10.4
Tisane
- 3f Hallowed Crown (AUS) x Camarena (NZ) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Craig Williams 55
9
10.5
Song Brocade
- 3f Zoffany (IRE) x Peony Fairy (USA) (Mr. Greeley (USA))
Tnr: J D Sadler Rdr: M Zahra 55.5
10
11.3
Walking Flying
- 3f Tavistock (NZ) x Veloce Bella (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Rdr: Jye McNeil 55
11
12.1
Oriental Lily
- 3f Hinchinbrook (AUS) x Famous Lilly (USA) (Rahy (USA))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: D Dunn 55
12
27.1
Apicius
- 3f Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Vanilla Princess (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: S Baster 55
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