Te Akau Filly Oaks' Bound

On the plough and preparing for the $300,000 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) on Saturday March 15 at Trentham, Tiara (Hercock) worked over ground to cut out the 1400 metres in 1:38.1, last 600m in 38.5.

Owned by Waikato Stud, Tiara (O'Reilly) displayed good quickening powers to range on the leaders at the 250 metres and stayed on solidly for second in her lead up run on Feb. 26 in the Benchmark 65 2100 metres at Te Rapa. She staged a massive run to win her maiden over a mile on Jan. 2 at Tauranga, and her pedigree suggests she would appreciate more distance. Her grand-dam Royal Tiara (Blanco) won the 1995 Auckland Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m) and her dam, Royal Lady (Stravinsky), recorded her five wins around 2000 metres. She is currently at $31 in the fixed odds market for the race.