Mirjulisa Lass emerged as a leading contender for the AJC Oaks with a dominant win in today’s Group One Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).
Sent out at big odds despite winning two of her past four Sydney runs, Mirjulisa Lass came with a strong and well timed run up the inside of the field in the straight to firstly hit the front and then race clear.
Prepared by Greg Hickman, Mirjulisa Lass was considered by most punters as an outsider – but connections thought their charge had an undeniable chance of success.
“Everything had gone along 110% perfect for her and I just couldn’t believe the price. It’s going to be a good afternoon.”
“She’s going to be a real chances for the Oaks,” Hickman noted.
“It was only the other day that they (the owners) had their first city winner and then to have this (same) horse come out and win a Group One – it’s just unbelievable.”
For Hickman the win ended somewhat of a drought in racing’s elite races.
“It’s been a long time since the last one.”
Mirjulisa Lass ($21-$51) cruised to the line two and a half lengths clear of her nearest rival – the Diatribe filly Fibrillation ($13-$21-$19).
Third home was the favourite and reigning VRC Oaks winner Brazilian Pulse ($2.40-$2.60-$2.35 fav) – who was a further three parts of a length behind the runner-up.
Corey Brown, who rode Mirjulisa Lass to victory, has liked the way the filly has progressed through the grades and up in distance.
“I said to my manager I really want to stay on his horse going to the Oaks,” Brown said after the win.
“She won good two starts before this, although it was a mediocre race on the Kensington track.”
“She was a little bit unlucky last start, but I still thought she would handle an Oaks trip,” Brown added.
Mirjulisa Lass, a graduate of the 2009 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, is by Danehill’s Stradbroke Handicap winning son Danasinga – sire of fellow Group One winners Metal Bender and Portland Singa.
Her dam, the unraced Dolphin Street mare Dol, is the dam of two winners and is a half sister to four time stakes winner Pembleton as well as the dam of South African star Sharks Bay.
Dol’s latest weaning, an attractive filly by California Dane, has been catalogued for next month’s Magic Millions National Weanling Sale at the Gold Coast.
And Dol herself, after a spring serve from Danehill’s Group One sire Dane Shadow, will also go under the hammer at June’s National Broodmare Sale.
Winner: Mirjulisa Lass (Danasinga-Dol)
Race: ATC Vinery Stud Stakes G1 (2000m)
Passed for: $3,500
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale
Vendor: Baerami Thoroughbreds (As Agent)
Reserve: $5,000
Earnings: $341,380
Owner(s): R Pitt, G Burgess, R McDougall, K Robertson, M Ford, T Cassell, P Sue, D Lebrocque, B Creagh & Racing Business Syndicate (Mgr: P Sue)
Trainer: Greg Hickman (Warwick Farm)
