Irish duo Thomas Carberry and John Allen combined for a memorable victory on Thursday when emerging filly Strictly Business claimed the $1 million VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington.
The Group 1 triumph was the first of Carberry’s training career, made even more remarkable by the fact Strictly Business was having only her fourth start.
The Grunt filly had broken her maiden at Ballarat just 13 days prior, before a strong-finishing runner-up effort in last weekend’s Wakeful Stakes convinced connections to roll the dice.
“We’d been thinking about this race for a long time,” Carberry said.
“Missing Geelong put us behind, but she came through Ballarat beautifully and then the Wakeful told us she was crying out for 2500 metres. She was ready for this challenge.”
Strictly Business ($7.50) relished the staying test, powering clear late to defeat The Pearls ($8) by 3-1/2 lengths, giving Chris Waller his first placing in the Oaks. After Summer ($31) closed off well to finish third.
Race favourite Getta Good Feeling ($1.80) settled midfield and loomed into contention at the top of the straight but peaked late and faded to sixth.
For jockey John Allen, who lives just doors away from Carberry in Ballarat, the win carried extra meaning.
“It’s an incredible effort,” Allen said.
“Tom trains a small team, rides all of them himself — to get a maiden winner to an Oaks winner in two weeks is extraordinary.”
The result continued a dominant week for Ballarat stables following the Melbourne Cup victory of the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Half Yours.
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