Winner: Speedy Natalie (Al Maher-Speedy Bell)
Race: AJC Adrian Knox Stakes G3 (2000m)
Sold for: $70,000
Sale: 2008 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale
Vendor: Yarraman Park Stud
Buyer: Bill Mitchell
Earnings: $205,555
Owner(s): KK & Mrs SY Chung
Trainer: Peter Moody (Caulfield)

Speedy Natalie burst into contention for the Group One AJC Australian Oaks with a demolition job on her rivals in today’s Group Three Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.

The win was a relief to connections who are still scratching their heads after the filly bucked shortly after the start in her most recent outing in the Group One Australasian Oaks.

Trainer Peter Moody was expecting the Al Maher filly to win in Adelaide and he was glad at her next run she was able to score a valuable group race victory.

The top Caulfield horseman said the AJC Oaks was always on the agenda for the filly – who won the Dequetteville Stakes in Adelaide at her first ever start.

“I had her up here earlier in the year when Chris Munce rode her and she had absolutely no luck,” Moody said.

“And to his credit back then he said – if ever I’ve ridden an AJC Oaks filly, this is it,” he added.

After the forgettable performance in Adelaide, Moody and his team have been working hard to get Speedy Natalie back on track and firing.

“She’s had an interrupted prep as you saw when she went to Adelaide.”

“I don’t know what happened in Adelaide. We expected this (sort of performance) there.”

“So we’ve had to wait six weeks for it.”

“The fitness was never an issue. It was just a matter of keeping her mentally right. She’s a little bit fragile.”

“A trip to the Cranbourne trials wasn’t exactly ideal, but thankfully she’s put it all together here.”

“She’s been up here for a week and the boys have done a good job and settled her in well and I’m really looking forward to next Saturday.”

Moody is really looking forward to the filly running in next Saturday’s Group One AJC Oaks against proven Group One star, the homebred Cummings trained Faint Perfume.

“The pleasing thing was today I think she did it pretty soft. Hopefully enough to bring her on, but not take the top off her.”

“The owners are at Sha Tin today. I spoke to them a little while back. Hopefully it will be worth a trip for them down next week.”

By former top galloper and regally bred stallion Al Maher, Speedy Natalie is from the Gimcrack Stakes winning Brocco mare Speedy Bell.

She was offered for sale by Yarraman Park Stud who bought Speedy Bell for $160,000 when carrying Speedy Natalie at the 2006 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

The mare was previously owned by the late Ian Barton of Kanowna Stud in South Australia who was responsible for sending the mare to Al Maher.