Midnight Oil Shines in the Oaks

The final leg of the coveted New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series - the $300,000 Group 1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks (2400m) - has seen the Group 3 Lowland Stakes winner Midnight Oil take her first Group 1 win.

Jumping from the inside barrier of four, jockey Rosie Myers and her mount Midnight Oil (Keeper x Gilded Light) were posted well back in the field and, with the pair having a hard time getting off the rail, Myers remained patient and tried her luck for an inside run.

The decision proved a good one, and the Paul Duncan trained daughter of Keeper shot through a timely opening in the final stages of the feature with the filly racing away to her first Group 1 win. A delighted Rosie Myers brought Midnight Oil back to scale with the Oaks also her first win at Group 1 level.

Trainer Paul Duncan was very happy with the horse's performance.

"We were very happy with her coming into the race, she had thrived since her win in the Group 3 Lowland Stakes at Hawke's Bay and we knew the distance would pose few problems for her.

"We knew it would be a tall order as it was a quality field, and the horse can sometimes be tough to ride as she can go quite hard, but she was very good on Saturday."

"She has come through the race in top order and we will give her a break for now and maybe look at some races for her in the Brisbane carnival."

The Lisa Latta trained Zennista (Zenno Rob Roy x Zarnitsa) ran a cracking race as she loomed up with what was looking like a winning bid in the straight. She led for the better half of the race and was very brave in the concluding stages. The Roger James trained Insurgent (Ishiguru x Stella Attrice) also ran a good 2400 metres and looked a big danger in the final furlong to run on well for third.

Midnight Oil was bred by Andari Ltd and was passed in at the 2009 Karaka Select Sale for $15,000 from the Henley Park draft. Owned by the Nineteenth Syndicate, has won four of her eight starts and has earned over $230,000 in stakes.

The win has earned Midnight Oil second place in the NZB Filly of the Year Series as she earned 12 points in the Oaks, with Zennista taking seven points and Insurgent earning three-and-a-half points.

To view the final points table for the 2010/2011 NZB Filly of the Year Series, click here.