David Hayes is looking forward to seeing undefeated mare Oxigenada in action at Caulfield today when she has her first Australian start.
Formerly trained in Argentina, Oxigenada has won all of her seven starts including the group one Gonzalez Stakes (1600m) at her most recent run on November
19.
Hayes has had success with Argentinian horses in the past, most notably Vroom Vroom who also raced in Hong Kong before he won his first three Australian starts and finished a half-length fourth to Roman Arch in the 2006 Australian Cup.
"She [Oxigenada] is a group one winner so we have put her in all the big races in the spring," Hayes said.
"Normally I have found Argentinian horses take a preparation or two but she won a trial at Lindsay Park very well and I'm looking forward to seeing her race."
Hayes was asked to train the Ibero mare but is yet to meet the Melbourne-based businessman who manages the Bennelong Bloodstock Syndicate which races the 5-year-old.
"I was asked to train her and very lucky to have her," Hayes said.
Oxigenada has won her seven starts by an aggregate of 37- 1/4 lengths with her biggest margins 14 lengths over 1600m as a 3-year-old and by 10 lengths over 1400m in July last year.
She will take on the mares in today's William Buck Classic (1100m) and carry 57.5kg after the 2kg claim for apprentice Dean Holland.
"Argentina form doesn't always convert over here but she seems a good, honest filly and we are giving her a chance to stay undefeated," Hayes said. "If she wins she will all of a sudden raise a few eyebrows.
"Obviously she's very competitive to have done what she has done."
Oxigenada's rivals include stakes-performed mares Lucky Diva, Dyna Myta, Dirty Denim and Speedy Rossa, Gina Lollawitcha, Amarazetti and Causeway Lass.
- AAP
