At the recent Queensland Racing Industry Awards a very happy Louise Gillard was on hand to collect the Queensland Two Year Old of the Year trophy for her outstanding filly Oakleigh Girl.
A Magic Millions Gold Coast January sale graduate, Oakleigh Girl showed great potential from her first long jump out. Such was the confidence that Danny had in the daughter of Snitzel, out of the Group 1 winning mare Miss Kournikova, that he put her on the plane with Longport for the prestigious Melbourne Spring Carnival. Her first barrier trial was at Cranbourne where she easily won the trial beating the likes of future multiple Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed Bring Me The Maid.
Oakleigh Girl’s first start was down the straight at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day. What a thrill it was for all the connections when the sassy filly lead all the way to score the Group 3 Seven News (Ottawa Stakes) win in the first race on the card. To have a horse race on arguably Australia’s greatest race day and have it be a black type win was a joy that all of us will cherish for many years to come.
A quick freshen up after her triumph and Oakleigh Girl was back in the winners stall again at her next start in the Listed Calaway Girl Stakes at Doomben. This was followed a fortnight later by a gallant fourth in the BJ McLoughlin when she hung on gamely even though the first half of the race was run like a land speed record attempt.
Tough as teak she was able to bounce back from that incredibly hard run and finished second to Unencumbered in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic picking up an additional $325,000 Women In Racing Bonus for her owner.
Oakleigh Girl finished her 2YO debut year with $503,500 (plus the $325,000) in earnings with two wins and a third from 6 starts.
Marybeth