A commanding staying performance has Black Pearl right on track for her crack at the Group Two Southland Oaks.
The Kentuckiana Lodge filly could not have been more impressive when running to a powerful victory in the final heat of the Southland Oaks series at Winton last week.
Black Pearl was caught wide early before taking up the parked position.
It wasn’t long until the three-wide train came and driver Jonny Cox had no plans to let them get in front of the Cran and Chrissie Dalgety trained filly.
The filly then shrugged off her hard work to run to a strong staying win that suggested she will thrive over the 2700m of the Southland Oaks Final.
“It was a very impressive win, she gave the others their chance to run her down and thankfully they couldn’t do it,” Cran Dalgety said.
“We have been chomping at the bit to give her a run over a bit of distance and she loved it.”
“She is a very determined filly, her temperament is a big plus.”
“She relaxed when she got to parked and didn’t take anything extra out of herself.”
“That can be the winning and losing of a race like the Oaks this week.”
“We don’t know if we can beat all the good ones but we can move forward with a bit of confidence.”
“When the going gets tough she won’t quit on us that’s for sure.”
One of the most pleasing parts of Black Pearl’s win was how she pulled up after her heat win.
The filly was bright and recovered well ahead of her Group Two assignment this week.
Black Pearl will race in the Southland Oaks for a great bunch of Kentuckiana owners including Ron Burke, Mark Weaver, Mike Bruscemi, Larry Karr, Phil Collura, Phil and Margaret Creighton, Bernard Smith, David Schollum, Ken Cummings and Margaret Meates.
Franco Sinatra announced himself as a horse with a future when running to a strong debut win in the Kentuckiana Lodge colours at Addington.
Carter Dalgety gave the three-year-old a sweet run in the one-one and he took full advantage when running to an impressive debut win.
“He is just a lovely horse and he wasn’t going to be a maiden for too long.”
“By Captaintreacherous, he’s got a bit of size about him and I think he will only get better as he gets older.”
“But in the meantime the owners are going to have a lot of fun with him.”
“We were attracted to him because we knew the family but also because he was a lovely physical specimen.
“He should kick plenty more goals going forward.”
Franco Sinatra is raced by Brendan and Nigel Fahy, Rex Knowler, Dougal Steel, Steve and Raewyn James.
The pacer went on to run a strong second in the Little Green Jug at Methven over the weekend.
