Waikato trainer Ben Foote can see the funny side in his star filly Sakura Girl drawing out in the carpark for tomorrow’s Queensland Oaks.
“They must have got sick of our good fillies winning all their races,” cracks Foote.
Foote was referring to the Group 1 heroics of Legarto (Australian Guineas), Prowess (Vinery Stakes) and Pennyweka (ATC Oaks) during the autumn, all horses Sakura Girl has raced against with credit this season.
But facing starting from the outside barrier of 18 tomorrow, Foote needs something to put a smile on his face.
Not only has Sakura Girl drawn the outside barrier but the other Cambridge-trained filly in the Oaks, Cheval D’Or, has drawn to start from barrier 17 for trainer Tony Pike, so the Kiwi fillies face a daunting task over 2400m.