By Ray Hickson
Trainer Mark Newnham sees no point in setting talented filly Super Oasis an unachievable task at this stage of her career.
The three-year-old, a brilliant first-up winner at Kembla Grange, could easily have been asked to take on the likes of Libertini, Kiamichi and Funstar at Group 2 level at Randwick on Saturday.
But as promising as Newnham believes Super Oasis is, he says Wednesday’s Press Statement @ Vinery Handicap (1100m) on Randwick’s Kensington track is a much more realistic target.
“She’s a really sharp filly, she just has to get her racing manners right before I step her up too far in grade,’’ Newnham said.
As Newnham alluded, jockey Nash Rawiller didn’t have the easiest of rides on Super Oasis at Kembla.
The filly became strung up in the six horse field but unleashed a powerful burst once in the clear inside the 200m. From a tricky gate second-up Rawiller will need to have things in control when finding a back to follow.
“The other day she was a bit aggressive with cover but they went very slow,’’ he said.
Super Oasis wins first-up at Kembla on August 8
“So it’s more about teaching her how to race properly but she’s got enough talent.’’
Super Oasis, who has had an easy trial since her win, was $4.20 favourite with TAB on Tuesday.
The Group 3 Cameron Handicap at Newcastle later this month could be on the radar for stakes winning four-year-old Final Award if he lumps 61.5kg to a first-up win.
The Canberra Guineas winner takes his place in The Agency Real Estate Handicap (1300m) as a $6 chance and Newnham dismisses the weight as a factor.
“He’s trialled really well, he carries plenty of weight but that won’t bother him. He‘s a big, strong animal,’’ he said.
“As long as he keeps improving a race like the Cameron might be an achievable goal this time around.’’
If the Cameron (1500m), run on September 20, comes up a bit soon for Final Award then Newnham’s confidence about the horse going forward should be noted.
Sydney might not be seeing a whole lot of Newnham’s other Kensington runner Celestial Falls after she resumes in the TAB Handicap (1300m).
The filly has had two trials since her last start win over 1550m at Canterbury in June and Newnham is setting her on an Oaks path this spring.
“She’s hopefully going to follow a similar path to what Greysful Glamour did last year,’’ he said.
All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's Kensington meeting at Randwick