It was an Oaks three-peat for champion jockey Hugh Bowman as Unforgotten followed wins by Bonneval (2017) and Sofia Rosa (2016) in the three-year-old fillies classic.
Find out what the jockeys made of their horses’ runs in the Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium Australian Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick.
Hugh Bowman (Unforgotten): “She’s a lovely filly, we had a slight concern of her running a strong mile and a half, it was a staying test today and this filly came through with flying colours.
“Who knows what’s in store for her in the future.”
“I was always confident, I had such a lovely run in transit, I worked her on Tuesday morning so I knew what she was capable of, I knew from the 400m that I had Hiyaam covered, but I wasn’t to know what was coming from behind me, but it would have been a monumental effort to come from behind and run me down because she was superb the last 500m.”
Michael Dee (Hiyaam): “She is very tough. That wind fired her up a little bit down the back and down the side. I needed her to relax for another furlong and that may have been the difference. She is so tough.”
Damien Oliver (Miss Admiration): “It was a career best for her. She stays really well and the strong tempo of the mile and a half really suited.”
Mark Zahra (Aloisia): “She got too far back and couldn’t get into the race.”
Chris Johnson (Savvy Coup): “She had her chance. She ran a brave race. She just peaked coming to the end a little bit.”
Kerrin McEvoy (Luvaluva): “She was back and wide. She never got a chance to get into the race. She was well below her best.”
Luke Currie (Bring Me Roses): “She was good. She took a while to find her spot. The winner pushed her out of the way and quickened away from her. I thought she worked to the line well. She is a nice stayer in the making.”
Craig Williams (Contessa Vanessa): “She gave me a lovely ride behind the speed. Graeme Rogerson says she will be spelled.”
Michael Walker (Danzdanzdance): “She went super. She had a really good run. She was flat a really long way out and usually a horse would stop. She kept trying. If they take it home and she puts on 60-70kg she would be a better horse. She’s at the end of her prep now but I take my hat off to her.”
Jason Collett (Chilly Cha Cha): “She probably didn’t relax well enough to see out the 2400m.”
Damian Lane (She’s A Treasure): “It was probably all a bit much for her. She will be a better horse next preparation.”
Rhys McLeod (Naivasha): “I think the whole experience got the better of her.”
Dwayne Dunn (Wild Sea): “It was probably a step too far for her at this time of her life.”
Quotes courtesy Racing NSW