CHRISTCHURCH - Victorian horseman Craig Demmler is as confident as he can be that champion filly Tupelo Rose will win tonight's $75,000 New Zealand Oaks at Addington Raceway.
But Demmler, the caretaker trainer of the champion filly for his father Ted, also respects classy fillies like New South Wales Oaks winner Dancingonmoonlight, and Shivna, in a quality field.
"I'm pretty confident, but it is a good field and you can't be too confident," Demmler said. "Like everyone, I've been waiting to find the bottom of her after the racing and travelling she has done, but her work this week has been super."
Tupelo Rose has been a boarder at Jeff Whittaker's Wigram Lodge since travelling from Auckland to Christchurch last week.
"She worked solo at Addington on Monday, and with a galloping pacemaker on Wednesday, but the pacemaker, who had already had a workout, couldn't keep up," he said.
"It is a fast track, but I was pretty impressed with her times and how easily she finished her work."
Demmler described Tupelo Rose as a "freak" racehorse.
"She is probably the best horse I've driven - she can do it at both ends of a race and that's why she is as good as she is," he said.
Demmler said Tupelo Rose had trouble handling the final turn in her Hydroflow Heat win at Auckland, but showed great heart and toughness to get past Pocket Queen in a one minute 56.8 seconds mile rate for the 1700m.
A third oaks win tonight, having earlier won the Great Northern and Victorian Oaks, will be the icing on the cake for Tupelo Rose.
Demmler senior flies into Christchurch today to drive Tupelo Rose.
Dancingonmoonlight, also stabled at Wigram Lodge, pleased Pukekohe trainer Steven Reid with her game second in an Addington Hydroflow Heat last week. Reid expects the tough Holmes Hanover filly to be fitter for tonight's race.
Racing: Tupelo Rose in tussle of fine fillies
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