Tiamo Grace has stamped herself as a serious Crown Oaks contender after leading a talented field home to win the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington this afternoon.
Tiamo Grace produced a career-best performance to date to win the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes this afternoon. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
Tiamo Grace received plenty of from punters in the hours leading up to jump on Derby Day and the filly did her chances of success no harm when she found a good position in transit within the field, after jumping well.
Switching off and receiving an ideal run in transit, jockey Damian Lane threaded the needle with the three-year-old rounding onto the final straight and immediately responded when asked for an extra effort; kicking clear of her rivals to comfortably find the line ahead of Sebring Dream and Missrock.
Lane was thrilled with the feel offered up by Tiamo Grace in the Wakeful Stakes and believes that the horse has the making of an Oaks winner in less than a week.
“It’s a class D Weir operation – they start out in the bush and get some confidence, and when he brings them to town you know they’re ready and she showed that last start,” Lane said after the Wakeful Stakes.
“We’ll see what the camp has to say, but off that win it would be very hard not to take her there (Crown Oaks).”
Stable representative for trainer Darren Weir, Jeremy Rogers said that the filly’s condition over the coming days with determine whether or not she progresses to a start in the Crown Oaks 2016.
“She’s a really, nice progressive filly and she was beautifully ridden by Damian,” Rogers said.
“He just had her nice and relaxed in a lovely spot and as soon as he let her loose at the top of the straight, she did the rest.
“I think today was her long-term goal but we’ll just see how she is over the next few days before deciding if to push on to Thursday, or put her back into the paddock and come back for the autumn.
“At home she’s always shown she’s a nice filly and has just kept improving with everything we’ve asked her to do.”
Tiamo Grace extended her career record to two wins and three minors through only five competitive starts, in being crowned the 2016 Wakeful Stakes winner.
Bet with Ladbrokes.com.au today to take advantage of the best odds and promotions on Derby Day!
2016 Wakeful Stakes Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | TIAMO GRACE | Darren Weir | Damian Lane | – | 8 | 55kg | $5 |
| 2 | 4 | SEBRING DREAM | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | James McDonald | 1.25L | 10 | 55kg | $4.40F |
| 3 | 1 | MISSROCK | Robbie Laing | Hugh Bowman | 2.75L | 7 | 56kg | $6 |
| 4 | 17 | TOFFEE NOSE | Danny O’Brien | Craig Williams | 2.95L | 1 | 55kg | $101 |
| 5 | 2 | PRETTY PUNK | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas | Chad Schofield | 3.7L | 11 | 55.5kg | $5 |
| 6 | 3 | ALLITERATE | Pat Farrell | Blake Shinn | 4.7L | 5 | 55kg | $11 |
| 7 | 7 | WATERLOO SUNSET | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Joao Moreira | 5.2L | 3 | 55kg | $18 |
| 8 | 15 | ALMALITA | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Michael Walker | 5.95L | 2 | 55kg | $41 |
| 9 | 10 | WHYOUASK | Matt Laurie | Ben Melham | 6.15L | 6 | 55kg | $91 |
| 10 | 5 | BELLA SORELLASTRA | Peter Morgan & Craig Widdison | Stephen Baster | 6.25L | 15 | 55kg | $20 |
| 11 | 8 | LAMMA HILTON | Anthony Cummings | Regan Bayliss (a) | 6.35L | 13 | 55kg | $101 |
| 12 | 13 | MY GIRL CHILLY | Jarrod McLean | Dean Yendall | 6.45L | 17 | 55kg | $101 |
| 13 | 9 | OUTBACK RAIN | David Brideoake | Ryan Maloney | 7.7L | 4 | 55kg | $41 |
| 14 | 16 | PENTHOUSE KITTEN (NZ) | Francis Finnegan | Jake Bayliss (a) | 7.8L | 12 | 55kg | $201 |
| 15 | 12 | BETTYRAE RUBY | Tim Hughes | Zac Purton | 10.05L | 9 | 55kg | $201 |
| 16 | 14 | QUEEN OF ZEALAND (NZ) | Michelle Payne | Ms Michelle Payne | 10.55L | 14 | 55kg | $51 |
| 17 | 11 | FLORIDA KEYS | Pat Carey | Kerrin McEvoy | 11.8L | 16 | 55kg | $31 |
