Racing: Trainer's joy Justa Tad early

Auckland trainer Rudy Liefting admitted to starting his celebrations a little too early after his gallant filly Justa Tad was run down by Dizelle in the shadows of the Randwick post in the A$700,000 ($768,470) AJC Oaks yesterday.

"I thought we had it won," said Liefting, partly in apology for cheering so enthusiastically after Justa Tad seemed likely to prevail.

In the end, an explosive late dab by Zabeel filly Dizelle gave her victory by a half-length, denying New Zealand its first Oaks win since Domino in 1990.

Repeating the effort of last year when French Lady and Boulevardofdreams ran second and third, New Zealand filled the minor placegetters, with the Mark Walker-trained Gee That's Tops charging from the back of the field to grab third.

Liefting was far from unhappy with second and pleased Justa Tad had performed so well and courageously in Australian company.

"She showed she can measure up here, so that's the main thing," he said.

He was also happy with the A$132,000 cheque for second place, which took the Istidaad filly's stakes earnings to A$589,506.

Jockey Larry Cassidy was full of praise for the effort, saying she would have won had the pace of the race not been so slow and had she been able to relax.

Justa Tad, who started a $7 fourth favourite, was back in the field with the four other New Zealand runners early in the 2400m classic.

Cassidy told Liefting that going past the 1300m he thought he would slide the filly three deep as the pace slackened off.

"But she charged straight up the back of the one in front so I had to go wider."

The filly continued her long run, loping up outside the leaders but lost a length or two on them at the turn as she drifted wider, before balancing up for her charge.

She hit the lead with 200m to go and was two lengths clear at the 100, before Dizelle, who had a chequered run, mounted a late burst.

"It was a long last 100m," Cassidy said. "She never gave up at any stage."

Liefting said the filly would return home to Takanini today for a spell.

He said he would look at setting her for the $1 million Kelt Capital Stakes in the spring before possibly heading for Melbourne.

Cassidy said he thought the Caulfield Cup would be a good race for her.

Gee That's Tops belied her $30 odds with a strong staying run down the outside to take third.

Jockey Darren Beadman praised her effort to make up so much ground from the back of the field.

"She's going to be a good mare in the spring. The others were just a little too classy for her today."

It's Tusker ran on for seventh, while the other New Zealander, Danex, was last.

Despite Justa Tad's great effort no one could deny Dizelle, who had a horror run before getting clear late.

"She got smashed four times between the 800 and the 200," jockey Corey Brown said.

"I could feel (trainer) John Hawkes' hands closing around my throat.

"She dug deep the last 100 and just flew to the line."

- NZPA