Striking black colt Oak Door held all challengers at bay to open his stakes account with
Under a positive ride by the in form Damian Lane, Oak Door found the front in the early stages. They were lining up to mount a challenge to the son of Commands on the home turn but he turned them back one by one to win quite comfortably by a length from Attention (Stratum) with Knowable (Hinchinbrook) a short-half-head back in third. (photo Grant Courtney).
The Robert Smerdon-trained colt advances his record to 4 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds from 11 starts with earnings of $234,500.
Lane was impressed by Oak Door's record and physique.
"His form has been faultless this prep," Lane said.
"Robert has got him going super.
"I've watched his tapes but this is
"He's got a lovely high cruising speed and to his credit was strong to the line.
Smerdon said he was confident once Lane found the front with a minimum of effort.
"Damien brought him across at a controlled gallop," Smerdon said.
"They sat up mid race so you always thought he would give a good kick. He beat some nice horses today. Horses like him make their own luck."
The son of Commands is among the entries for next month's Group I Australian Guineas (1600m) but Smerdon said it was keen to stretch Oak Door out to1800m in the coming weeks.
"These horses like him that can control a race from the front at 14(00m), you often see horses with tactical speed that can do it easier in the early stages," Smerdon said.
"It's like that old
A $340,000 purchase Aquanita Racing from the Raheen Stud draft, Oak Door was the second most expensive yearling by his sire that year.
He is the second live foal and second winner out the smart
Beyonce's Star's
Beyonce's Star has an unraced Redoute's Choice filly named Chickaletta and a colt foal by Sebring. She was bred back to Sebring last spring.
From the penultimate crop of Commands, Oak Door becomes his 72nd stakes-winner.
