The powerhouse team of trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald prolonged their extraordinary Group 1 dominance during the Sydney autumn carnival, capped by Ohope Wins prevailing in a gripping $1 million ATC Australian Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Now, Waller and McDonald hold a record of securing a Group 1 each of the past seven consecutive Saturdays, beginning with Autumn Glow’s Verry Elleegant Stakes victory on February 28.
It’s a phenomenal run of top-level success for the Sydney pair, who next week will link with Fangirl in the All Aged Stakes and Campione D’Italia for the Champagne Stakes on carnival finale day.
Recently transferred to Waller’s yard, Ohope Wins became merely the fourth filly ever to sweep the New Zealand Oaks and ATC Australian Oaks, trailing Pennyweka (2023), Bonneval (2017) and Domino (1990).
Waller largely credited Lance O’Sullivan, Ohope Wins’s former trainer, for the Oaks conquest.
“Obviously I’ve been gifted this lovely filly by Yulong and Lance O’Sullivan did a great job with her prior to coming to me,” Waller said.
“Plus they gave me a hand with her as well, they were very friendly and very helpful which we’ve got to thank them for.
“It wasn’t hard to have her ready for this race because you know the horse is good enough, it was just about keeping it simple.
“I think she needed the run (4th in the Vinery Stud Stakes) and speaking with Lance, the confidence he had in her, he said she’s one of the best horses that he’s ever had anything to deal with so it’s a pretty big comment coming from him.”
Ohope Wins, sent off at $2.60 favourite, delivered a devastating late charge to pip the tough Profoundly ($3.20) by a long neck, as After Summer ($9.50) trailed by a half head for third.
McDonald explained the Oaks’s furious pace was perfect for Ohope Wins.
“I always had a plan to ride her quietly,” McDonald said.”I was blessed when the pace went on and it never stopped so it was going to be the toughest stayer and that’s exactly what she was.
“She’s a very gritty filly. She had enough on the line, the other two were brave (Profoundly 2nd, After Summer 3rd) and it was lucky we were on a good horse.”
Waller’s fifth ATC Australian Oaks came via Ohope Wins, though he rarely prepares rising four-year-old mares for the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup path.
The 2019 winner Verry Elleegant sat out both Cups that spring as a four-year-old.
Verry Elleegant returned the next year to land the Caulfield Cup before annexing the Melbourne Cup as a six-year-old.
Speaking of plans, Waller will give Ohope Wins a spell, keeping options open for her spring staying targets.
Trained by Michael Freedman, Profoundly had victory in sight after kicking away over the rise, but Ohope Wins reeled her in fast, making it a battle to the line by a long neck.
After Summer highlighted her staying credentials again with Group 1 placings in successive starts, building on second to Belle Cheval in the Vinery Stud Stakes to a bold third here in the Oaks.
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