New Zealand Oaks favourite Treasure to start in G3 Lowlands Stakes
The Group 3 Little Avondale Stud Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings on Thursday week will serve as her lead in to the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai-sponsored event on March 17.
Following the injury-forced defection of Dijon Bleu, the Tony Pike-trained Treasure now heads the Oaks market at $5.
The daughter of Mastercraftsman accounted for her stablemate Caricature last time out in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth and they will renew their rivalry at Hawke’s Bay.
“So far so good with both of them and they’ll run in the Lowland, but they will both be better when they get to 2400m,” Pike said.
“We’ve always had a massive opinion of Treasure, she’s just taken a few runs to work things out and the blinkers have helped her,” Pike said.
“Caricature’s also still quite new. She was bit tardily away and had to work to be outside of the leader, she was pretty brave in the straight.”
Caricature is not in the Oaks market, but connections have the late nomination path open to them until March 13.
Meanwhile, multiple Group 1 winner Sacred Star has taken no harm from his unplaced run in the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) on a heavily rain-affected Te Rapa track.
“We didn’t really want to start him, but he’s only had one run in the last 18 months,” Pike said.
“He travelled well until Vinnie (Colgan) let his head go and then he was ducking and diving. He’ll run in the Darley Plate and hopefully he gets a good surface.”