DAMIEN Lane says he has had “a bit of an opinion from Day 1” of Oakfield Saturn. So it was no surprise that the beautifully-bred daughter of American Pharoah shone brightly on debut at Gosford today.
Ridden by Aaron Bullock, Oakfield Saturn went to the post as a $1.75 favorite – and didn’t let her connections and punters down.
The three-year-old filly stretched out nicely over the last 200m to defeat the Hawkesbury pair, Peter Green’s Exothrill ($13) and Brad Widdup’s Turning Circle ($7) in the Provincial Maiden Handicap (1200m).
In the process, she became the third of four favorites to score before the program was halted.
Prominent owner Bruce Mackenzie outlaid $520,000 to purchase Oakfield Saturn at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale, and Wyong trainer Lane has had her right from the start.
“Bruce doesn’t race his horses as two-year-olds,” Lane said en route home after an early finish to the meeting.
“He likes to race them at six, seven and eight years of age.
“This filly has plenty of upside. Whilst she won today at 1200m, I’m sure she will get to 1800m and 2000m.
“We’ve taken our time with her. She trialled well twice at Newcastle in December then had a break and won another trial (850m) on the Beaumont track earlier this month.”
Punters took a lead from Lane’s decision to withdraw another unraced stablemate Oakfield Jupiter from today’s race, but he explained it was never intended for the pair of three-year-old fillies to meet.
“Oakfield Jupiter was to have run in the Fillies & Mares Maiden Handicap (1100m), but the race was scrapped at acceptance time and they put her in the Provincial Maiden,” Lane said.
“The two fillies are pretty well inseparable.
“They both have been to the same three trials (Oakfield Jupiter has won all of them) and work together at home.
“There’s not much between them at all.”
Oakfield Jupiter will make her debut in a Super 3YO Maiden Plate (1000m) at Saturday’s Provincial-Midway Championships Wild Card meeting at Wyong, and Grant Buckley will ride her.
Ironically, Buckley saw plenty of her stablemate today in the straight as he chased Oakfield Saturn home on Exothrill.
As the name implies, Oakfield Jupiter also races for Mackenize, who didn’t have to shell out as much, but still $320,000 for the daughter of Toronado at the 2023 Inglis Classic yearling sale before the Easter sale.
Oakfield Saturn was Lane’s 16th winner so far this season, and his career 317th.
. HOOFNOTE: RacingNSW stewards called off the remaining three races at Gosford after jockey Jay Ford told them his mount Shambretta slipped and became unbalanced rounding the home turn in the fourth event.
Stewards then conducted an inspection with senior riders at the relevant point on the home turn and, after consultation, determined that the remainder of the meeting should be postponed because of safety concerns.
Story John Curtis, March 27, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos
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