EL PATRONESS POWERS TO OAKS VICTORY

Danny O’Brien, a master trainer of stayers, wasn't on track but there was no prouder man as El Patroness streaked away to Group 1 glory at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

“I trained Shamus Award and I bred this filly,’’ O’Brien told The Sunday Telegraph.

“El Patroness is the first Group 1 winner I’ve trained by Shamus Award so in that respect it is really satisfying to have trained Shamus Award and now this filly.’’

O’Brien had been in Sydney all week at the Inglis Easter Sales but returned to Melbourne where he cheered home El Patroness in the $1m ATC Australian Oaks (2400m).

“Look, we had always been very confident in her once she got to 2400m and I thought she would run well today,’’ O’Brien said.

“She was favourite for the VRC Oaks in the spring but she had a really tough run on Caulfield Cup day and that bottomed her out.

“But she has returned really well this autumn. Her first two runs were excellent but then she had a very difficult run at Moonee Valley the other night when she over-raced and did everything upside down.

“We were happy with her going into the Oaks and she enjoyed getting out to 2400m. It was really testing conditions but she was powering through the line.

“Shamus Award is such an exceptional stallion and when his horses get to 2400m you are very confident with them. It’s a bit like how it used to be with the Zabeel’s at a mile and a half, they just grow a leg.’’

El Patroness ($26) was clearly the superior stayer as she drew away from a game Gypsy Goddess ($4) to win by 2½ lengths with early leader Gin Martini ($91) holding on for third.

The first three into the straight were the first three home with favourite Hinged ($3.80) finishing fourth, nearly five lengths behind the winner.

Damien Lane, rider of El Patroness, said his filly appreciated the solid tempo set by Gin Martini.

“It helped El Patroness get into a good rhythm and she was too strong at the end,’’ Lane said.

“I travelled so sweetly, got in between a couple on the corner and she just took me through the run.

“You’re never quite sure here at Randwick because it’s a long way down to the winning post, especially on heavy ground, but she always felt like she was sustaining her gallop.”

El Patroness gave Victorian-trained three-year-olds the classic double after Hitotsu won the ATC Australian Derby last week.

The O’Brien-trained filly continued a discernible Group 1-winning trend this autumn as she campaigned in Melbourne and not on Sydney’s heavy tracks prior to her Oaks triumph, just as Hitotsu had done and also the Doncaster Mile trifecta of Mr Brightside, I’m Thunderstruck and Icebath.

El Patroness also continued the outstanding season for her stallion Shamus Award who has also sired Duais (Tancred Stakes, Australian Cup) and Incentivise (Caulfield Cup, Turnbull Stakes, Makybe Diva Stakes.

O’Brien, acknowledged for his success with stayers having won a Melbourne Cup with Vow And Declare (2019), Caulfield Cup with Master O’Reilly (2007), ATC Australian Derby with Shamrocker (2011), SA Derby with Russian Camelot (2020), VRC Oaks with Miami Bound (2019) and Shamus Award’s Cox Plate win in 2013, said he may keep El Patroness in training for the Queensland Oaks later in the season.

“But the good thing is the Shamus Awards get better with age,’’ he said.

“Duais was a good three-year-old but she is a very good four-year-old.’’

David Vandyke, trainer of Gypsy Goddess, said his filly had been beaten by a better stayer on the day.

“I guess finishing second in a Group 1 race at Randwick is a bit like losing the grand final,’’ Vandyke said.

“But I was proud of Gypsy Goddess because she looked likely to drop out at the 300m but she kept trying hard and did a wonderful job to finish second.

“Whether we continue with her to the Queensland Oaks depends on how she pulls up. She has tried her best and that is all you can ask.’’

Story By Ray Thomas for Sunday Telegraph

Pictures by Getty Images