Unforgotten will press on to the 2018 Vinery Stud Stakes and Australian Oaks after she returned to winning form with an impressive win in the Phar Lap Stakes at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.
Unforgotten savaged the line in the Phar Lap Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Shumookh took up the running in the early stages of the Phar Lap Stakes and ensured that the race was run at a genuine tempo, while jockey Jason Collett elected to settle Unforgotten towards the tail of the field.
Holy Snow hit the front at the 200 metre mark and looked as though he had the race won, but Unforgotten unleashed a powerful turn-of-foot in the final 100 metres to storm past her rivals in the final stages of the race.
Trainer Chris Waller was delighted to see Unforgotten return to her best form after she suffered cardiac arrhythmia when she finished at the tail of the field in the Surround Stakes and he paid credit to Racing New South Wales for allowing the filly to trial on Wednesday in order to be ed fit to run in the Phar Lap Stakes.
“Originally the trials were Tuesday and they were put off (until Thursday) because of the wet weather,” Waller said.
“She trialled well and it was only over a short distance.
“It was enough to get her stimulated and make sure that she pulled up well.
:I said to the owners that we won’t make a decision until 7.30 this morning if she is running.”
“I thought we might as well run her today, ride her quiet and let her finish off.
“That is how she won her races in the Summer when she was starting to build that reputation and that is how we rode her today.”
Waller confirmed that Unforgotten will run in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens in a fortnight before she steps-up to 2400 metres for the Australian Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick on the second day of The Championships.
Unforgotten is currently available at 2018 Australian Oaks odds of $11 with Ladbrokes, while Luvaluva ($6) is a narrow favourite from Danzdanzdance ($7), Savvy Coup ($8) and Bring Me Roses ($10).
