Irish duo Thomas Carberry and John Allen combined for a fairytale result at Flemington, with lightly raced filly Strictly Business storming home to win the VRC Oaks (2500m) on Thursday.
The $1 million Group 1 triumph was Carberry’s first at elite level and came at just the filly’s fourth start.
Strictly Business broke her maiden at Ballarat less than two weeks ago before running second in the Wakeful Stakes, prompting her trainer to take a shot at the Oaks.
“She looked like she needed 2500m — and that’s exactly what she showed today,” Carberry said.
The daughter of Grunt charged clear to win by 3½ lengths over The Pearls, with After Summer in third. Favourite Getta Good Feeling faded to sixth.
Allen praised Carberry’s small-team success: “He trains ten horses, rides them all out himself. To get this filly from a maiden win to an Oaks winner in under two weeks is unbelievable.”