Racing: Takanini filly to tackle AJC Oaks

Rudy Liefting had been only considering running Justa Tad in the AJC Oaks at Randwick on Wednesday week, then Larry Cassidy opened his mouth.

"I'll win the Oaks on her," said Cassidy after Justa Tad finished a terrific close third to two outstanding fillies, Hollow Bullet and Lotteria, in her Australian debut in Saturday's A$400,000 Arrowfield Stakes.

Cassidy made the comment to Rudy Liefting's wife, Megan, who strapped the filly on Saturday.

The Sydney jockey appeared to make a mistake when he committed Justa Tad to an inside run in the home straight from his position trailing the leaders on the rail.

The inside width of the Rosehill track appeared to be "off" and most riders were angling towards the centre in the final stages.

Cassidy says he wishes he'd gone even further in.

"In hindsight, I should have completely hugged the rail. She was handling it where she was and the margins she was beaten by were shorter than the ground I would have saved.

"Trouble is, if you buck the trends and get beaten you look stupid."

Liefting was delighted with the performance after Justa Tad took time getting back onto her feed after arriving in Sydney on Tuesday night.

"She didn't eat much and we were doing guesswork about how to work her.

"We tried to work her parallel to how much she was eating."

It is not unusual for horses to shy away from feed on their first serious trip away from home and many of them switch back into schedule after racing the first time.

Justa Tad kept finding the line strongly and will be greatly suited by stepping up to 2400m in the A$700,000 Oaks on Wednesday week.

Saturday's race was slowly run and Justa Tad looked flat when they sprinted around the 500m mark, but she made up considerable ground in the last 100m and recorded the second-fastest final 400m sectional.

Waikato filly Tusker, who finished fourth a length behind Justa Tad on Saturday will probably line up in the Oaks as well.

Trainer Murray Baker said she wants firmer ground and had run well.

Melbourne jockey Damian Oliver reported to Baker that the filly had her chance in the race, but would be a good chance in the Oaks.

Mercedes Derby placegetter King Johny also impressed in his Australian debut, finishing strongly from the tail of the field for Darren Beadman to take third in the $150,000 Parramatta League Stakes (2000m).

The 2400m of the A$1.8 million AJC Derby is going to suit.

New Zealand-owned mare Vouvray will not run in the Sydney Cup.

Victorian trainer Peter Moody was thrilled with the Zabeel mare's run for third in the A$2 million BMW at Rosehill, four lengths behind the great mare Makybe Diva.

"She's gone tremendously," Moody said. "She's been beaten by probably the best mare in the world."

Vouvray finished boldly from back in the field for her placing.

"She's going home to the Trelawney Stud for a break and we will aim for solely at the Melbourne Cup next preparation."

- additional reporting NZPA