Racing: Feel the acceleration

Probably no one was more confident of victory during the running of the $300,000 New Zealand Oaks than jockey Vinny Colgan.

To those watching the Group One race for three-year-old fillies at Trentham yesterday, it appeared Colgan's mount Justa Tad had a huge task in front of her at the top of the straight.

Leith Innes had gone for broke aboard Sahara Flight when kicking clear early in the run home. At that stage Justa Tad was still mounting a run from the rear of the field and was among the widest on the home turn.

But Colgan could hardly believe how well Justa Tad had settled during the race and said it was just a matter of when he elected to make his move.

"From the start, I went straight in behind and put her to sleep," Colgan said.

"Down the back straight I was all by myself and I didn't move - I just sat there.

"I knew when I let her go I could afford to because I hadn't spent a penny."

Even though Justa Tad had many lengths to make up in the straight, there was extreme confidence from Colgan.

"Very early in the straight I said to myself, 'this is all over'.

"As soon as I let her go, I could feel the acceleration."

Justa Tad, a $4.25 favourite, appeared wide out on the track with 200m to run and easily gathered in the leader and went on to score by three-quarters of a length.

The win saw Justa Tad regain her crown as queen of the fillies after she had tarnished her reputation when finishing second to Sydney filly Basra in the Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie, Auckland, on January 3 at her previous start.

Justa Tad had earlier been without question the top three-year-old filly in New Zealand with her wins including the Group One One Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton last November.

Auckland owner-trainer Rudy Liefting was also feeling redemption after the Royal Stakes second placing.

"I'm stoked," Liefting said. "She had a few knockers after that [Royal Stakes] but who can knock her now?

"She's won the two big fillies' races and she should have won the Bayer Classic [when an unlucky fifth] too."

Liefting bought Justa Tad for a mere $1000 as a weanling and her record now is nine starts for five wins and three seconds. The winner's purse of $187,500 took her stake earnings to more than $450,000.

Liefting was unsure of future plans for Justa Tad other than he intended to give the Istidaad bay a break.

He said he would probably look an Australian campaign for Justa Tad but yesterday preferred the Queensland winter carnival rather Sydney in the autumn.

"I want to give her a break because she's been up for a long time," he said.

"Queensland gives you a bit more time to build her back up again."

Second was Prize Lady who ran on well after racing three back on the inner while Sahara Flight was 1 3/4 lengths away third.

There was a gap of 3 1/4 lengths to fourth-placed Danex while fifth was Elena.

The second favourite Basra was 10th after racing outside the leader but did not handle her first attempt at the left-handed way of racing said Steve Brem.

Third favourite Arlingtonboulevard beat only one home but rider Noel Harris said she was badly checked.

- NZPA