The Thomas Carberry-trained Strictly Business (Grunt {NZ}) put in a polished staying performance, proving too tough and classy for her opposition to win the Gr.1 Victorian Oaks, running away by three and a half lengths in the hands of John Allen.
Incredibly Strictly Business was only first-up on October 24 when winning her maiden over 1400 metres at Ballarat, she then ran a fast finishing second in the Gr.2 Wakeful Stakes behind Getta Good Feeling (So You Think {NZ}) over 2000 metres only eight days later, and then won the Gr.1 Victorian Oaks today over 2500 metres, five days later.
She has squeezed a lot into 13 days, has went from 1400 metres to 2500 metres, and from a maiden victory, to Group 1 glory in what has been an incredible training performance and effort by the filly.
The race was run at a strong pace up front, with John Allen settling Strictly Business near last. The second favourite, The Pearls (NZ) (Proisir), sat around third-last, while Getta Good Feeling tracked just worse than midfield.
At the 600 metres, the backmarkers, led by The Pearls, made it interesting. While Getta Good Feeling looked to be travelling, she soon came under pressure. Allen steered through the field on Strictly Business, and once clear, bounded away from The Pearls, with After Summer (The Autumn Sun) finishing third.
All honours went to the winner, giving a huge thrill to Ballarat-based Carberry, who runs a small stable.
On the result, Carberry said:
“Yeah, I saw it, so yeah. It’s an incredible journey, racing, and I think everybody’s proud of it. You meet people here today and they’re legends, and to think you can do it, it’s great.”
On her preparation, running first-up just 13 days ago:
“We just looked at her as a horse for the future. She did things that day that were not normal. It takes a really good horse to do what she did, even in her maiden. It just put the Wakeful on the radar. She needed a trip to show her best.
“She’s a filly on the up. We had this race in mind for a long time. She missed a run at Geelong, but found a race at Ballarat a couple of weeks ago. She came through that so well we decided to take our chance in the Wakeful. Today came on the radar because she ran so well there. She looked like she needed the 2500-metre trip, and that was what happened.
“Ballarat is a happening place, winning the Melbourne Cup for the McEvoys, and we’re very happy with this result today.”
John Allen was equally thrilled:
“What a filly to win her maiden only two weeks ago. What a great effort by Tommy. He rides his own work. Tommy is a neighbour of mine – he only lives two doors down.
“She’s got no early speed, so we went back to last, hugged the rails, and followed the right horses into the straight. At the 600 metres, I knew we were going to run the trip, and my confidence grew.
“She was as raw as you could possibly be. It was obviously a great win at Ballarat, but she was inexperienced. Tommy rang me and said there wasn’t much coming up, only the Wakeful, and I said, why not have a crack? She ran so well there, we had to come to the Oaks. She’s pulled up well and is something to be excited about.
“The plan was always to go back. She can over-race, so I was happy to take my medicine early. They went a good gallop, and once they steadied mid-race, she got on the bridle. I was following the right horses, and when they peeled off, I was able to come up underneath them. To be honest, I knew it was all over. The way she rounded off her race, it was nearly all over turning in.”
Strictly Business is the second foal out of Tivoli Lass (Uncle Mo {USA}), who was a winner at 1400 metres. Her first foal is the talented Kicking King (Highland Reel {IRE}) who is also trained by Thomas Carbery, he has been a winner at 1700 metres and placed in the Listed Tasmanian Derby, and the Listed St Leger Stakes.
Strictly Business becomes the second Group 1 winner for Yulong sire Grunt (NZ), and further back in her family is the Group 1 winning Windsor Park Stud sire Shamexpress (NZ), who is best known as the sire of the Champion sprinter and Gr.1 The Everest winner in Ka Ying Rising (NZ).
Written for TTRAusNZ
