NEWS
Heavenly Glow wins Australian Oaks, rider edges closer to record
Posted: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 5:56 PM
by Myra Lewyn
Veteran jockey Robert Thompson edged closer to Australia’s all-time record for career victories when he guided Heavenly Glow to a win in the $469,528 Australian Oaks (Aus-G1) on Wednesday at Randwick.
The Spinning World filly earned her first Group 1 win with Thompson at the reins 11 days ago in the Arrowfield Stud Stakes (Aus-G1) at Rosehill Gardens.
With Tuesday’s triumph, Thompson has piloted 3,294 career winners and is closing in on the late Jack Thompson’s all-time win record of 3,322.
Heavenly Glow advanced into contention midway through the 2,400-meter (11.93-furlong) race and took aim on front-runners All Black Miss and Boundless at the top of the straight.
Thompson urged the chestnut filly for her rally inside the 200-meter mark, and she willingly quickened to outfinish Gillies New Zealand Oaks (NZ-G1) winner Boundless by a neck while covering the distance in 2:34.76 on turf rated as dead.
Galileo’s Daughter, runner-up in the Arrowfield Stud Stakes, finished another three lengths back in third in the 13-horse field. Zarita, who entered with a four-race victory skein that included two Group 1 races, finished eighth.
Heavenly Glow is out of the Celestial Bounty (Ire) mare Starsphere, and is trained by Allan Denham for a partnership. She will be pointed to the Queensland Oaks (Aus-G1).
The Oaks is the most significant victory of Thompson's career as he approaches his 50th birthday. He credited Jack Thompson with helping him early in his career.
“As his record gets closer, I am starting to think more about it,” he told racingandsports.com.
Myra Lewyn is daily news editor for Thoroughbred Times
