JAMES BOAG’S PREMIUM

AUSTRALIAN OAKS

(GROUP 1)

THE High Chaparral filly Hiyaam tried her best to emulate the daring front-running tactics that won her the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes at her previous start. Swinging around the bend with a two-length gap, the race looked all but won from jockey Michael Dee’s perspective at the top of the Randwick rise, with only Unforgotten not shaken from the task.

Building momentum from midfield, the Fastnet Rock filly came into the frame quickly under the urgings of Hugh Bowman. Catching Hiyaam inside 100 metres, Unforgotten kept on to win by a length from Hiyaam as the Sebring filly Miss Admiration grabbed third at 100/1 behind the two race favouirtes.

PARTNERSHIPS

The win was a fifth Australian Oaks for Hugh Bowman that brought up a 30th Group 1 for the partnership of Bowman and trainer Chris Waller. “I was always confident because I had such a lovely run in transit,” said Bowman. “I knew from the 400 metres that I had Hiyaam covered, but I wasn’t to know what was coming from behind me, but it would have been a monumental effort to come from behind and run me down because she was superb the last 500.”

A NZ$360,000 yearling from New Zealand Bloodstock’s Premier Yearling Sale, Unforgotten is out of the Irish-bred Galileo mare Memories Of You, and becomes the 31st Group 1 winner for her sire. Her time of 2.27.21 for the 2,400 metres lowered the race record by just over 1.5 seconds.

“She’s a shining star and today is an example of more to come because she’s a very good horse,” said Waller. “It was a true test, but she’s very calm and relaxed and that’s what excites me.”