An Irreplaceable SA Oaks Win
Last night's Coffex Coffee Oaks saw a triumph to New South Wales greyhound Irreplaceable. She started a short priced favourite and favourite backers were always happy as she boxed well from the red and was quickly in front.
From that point she was never tested and eventually won by over seven lengths, stopping the clock at 29.72 for the 515m journey.
Runner-up, Sweet About me continued her fairly luckless run in the series, having to overcome early interference before making up plenty of ground.
Trainer Paul Bartolo had brought 2006 Coffex Coffee Oaks winner, Miss Mini Mouse as a companion for Sweet About Me.
She won the previous race for Bartolo, so it wasn't an unsuccessful trip.
Farmor Swift made it an all interstate trifecta in third place after being prominent for most of the race.
The five locals hadn't faired too well in the box draw and that turned out to be their undoing, with virtually all of them in trouble around the first turn.
Wilny Bale, considered the best local hope, in particular was out the back after a bad shunt early.
Irreplaceable is trained by Majella Ferguson and was a perfect three for three in the series, having won both her heat and semi-final.
All three were run in quick times and there was little doubt that she was clearly the best performed greyhound over the three weeks.
It was Majella's first Group race training victory, with Irreplaceable having made the Laurels Final in Melbourne a couple of month's previously.
Irreplaceable now boasts a career record of 18 starts for 11 wins and 4 placings and with the $20,000 winners cheque boosted her earnings to over $33,000.
After the race, Majella's husband Craig, who has been staying with the greyhound in Adelaide, suggested they may look to run Irreplaceable in the Peters Young Star Classic at Cannington, Western Australia in November.
There is also a chance she may return to Adelaide for the Sky Channel Adelaide Cup in January if her form holds up.
Last Thursday's final was the 38th running of the South Australian Oaks, the feature has been won by some of greyhound racing star performers. Starting with the inaugural winner Bristol Miss (1971) trained by legendary South Australian mentor Doug Payne. Other outstanding chasers to win the Oaks have been Wee Rua, True To Do, Kedo's Millie, Moonambel Gem, Classic Capri, Lukeamy, Miss Mini Mouse and last year's winner Que Sera Sera.
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SA Oaks Hounour Roll
- 1971 Bristol Miss
- 1972 Keyway
- 1973 Ibis Lady
- 1974 Scarecrow
- 1975 Just Biddy
- 1976 Just Nonsense
- 1977 Roshana Belle
- 1978 Top Temissy
- 1979 Collis Queen
- 1980 Smoky Sheen
- 1981 Galoa Girl
- 1982 Canadian Queen
- 1983 Wee Rua
- 1984 True Shadow
- 1985 Nifty Lass
- 1986 Festival Sal
- 1987 Kinky Katie
- 1988 La Saron
- 1989 Blackwood Fleur
- 1990 Tinahue
- 1991 True To Do
- 1992 Revealing
- 1993 Sandi's Best
- 1994 Victorious Road
- 1995 Outrun
- 1996 Kedo's Millie
- 1997 Moonambel Gem
- 1998 Basco Bale
- 1999 Mepunga Spark
- 2000 Classic Capri
- 2001 El Paso
- 2002 Braakensiek
- 2003 Petite Verdot
- 2004 Lukeamy
- 2005 Tiarta
- 2006 Miss Mini Mouse
- 2007 Que Sera Sera
- 2008 Irreplaceable