Racing: Hoping for a case of deja vu

Philip Butcher only has to remember back a year to give Bachelorette a winning hope in tonight's $100,000 New Zealand Oaks.

The Cambridge horseman will partner his hometown filly in tonight's classic six days after winning the consolation of the Nevele F Fillies Final at Addington.

As the name suggests it is a long way from winning the consolation to downing the best fillies in a group one race like the Oaks but Bachelorette has two huge advantages on her side - gate speed and her ace draw.

That combination gives her a great chance of leading off the gate and then trailing second favourite Alinghi in what would give Butcher a case of deja vu.

"That was how I won my last big race, the Taylor Mile last year with V For," said Butcher.

"That night we got the perfect trail and got the passing lane and sometimes that can make all the difference, particularly in a big race. I am not saying she is as good as Alinghi or Western Dream but if we can get the right run we will get our chance."

The question is whether Bachelorette, who has only won two races, is good enough to beat a star like Western Dream, who has won 12.

"Maybe she isn't but there was a glimmer of hope a few starts ago," enthuses Butcher.

"The night when we finished third to her in the Nevele R heat at Cambridge we were right up hard on her back with plenty left at the line. I think Western Dream might have improved since then but I think this filly has too."

Bachelorette has been perhaps the most improved filly over the autumn and from her draw tonight is at least a must for quinellas and trifectas.

This is especially so with so many of her opponents having rarely raced in a major staying race.

But it is still hard to go past Alinghi or Western Dream as the likely winner.

Western Dream was too good for most in this field when she won the Nevele R Fillies Final on this track last Saturday but faces a far different assignment from the outside of the second line tonight.

Her recent wins have all been when racing handy but she did overwhelm many of these, including Alinghi, when she won two group one races at Alex Park in December.

With any sort of luck tonight she is clearly the one to beat.

Alinghi bounced back from a rough patch of form with an excellent third last Saturday and could well control tonight's race, which would make her very hard to run down. Her co-trainer Greg Hope said before last Saturday's race his filly would improve for tonight's event so she looks the best each way bet.