Sunshine Coast trainer Stuart Kendrick has big plans for his filly Italia Bella who is included in the 148 nominations for the 2018 Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 14, day two of The Championships.
Aloisia,above, is among the nominations for the 2018 Australian Oaks at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Italia Bella only broke through for her maiden win at her sixth race start over 1600m on her home track last Sunday but Kendrick is confident the Fastnet Rock filly out of the Group 1 winning mare Pear Tart will continue to improve and be capable of handling the 2400m of the Australian Oaks.
“She’s a horse that’s got a lot of promise,” Kendrick told the Sunshine Coast Daily.
“She’s always shown a lot of ability and she’s very well bred so hopefully she can go on.”
“She’ll probably have her next run over 2000m and step up and hopefully she’s going to be a nice staying filly for us.”
“Ultimately, the race we’d like to target is the Oaks. She’s got to keep improving and she’s good enough to do that and she’s got the breeding to do it.
“And what she’s shown us so far we think is, as she furthers (in distance) she’ll keep improving.”
If Italia Bella makes the final field for the 2018 Australian Oaks, she is likely to be taking on the best fillies from Australia and New Zealand and could include the 2017 Thousand Guineas winner Aloisia.
The Aaron Purcell trained Aloisia scored a surprise win in the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield during the 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival and then went on to win the Group 2 $200,000 Drummond Gold Vase (2040m) at The Valley.
Aloisia had one more run in the Spring when she was sent out as the short priced favourite for the Group 1 $1m Kennedy Oaks (2500m) at Flemington but finished just over three lengths from the winner Pinot in sixth position.
Purcell has also nominated the lightly raced filly Inspirante for the 2018 Australian Oaks.
Even though the Kennedy Oaks winner Pinot is not among the nominations for the Australian Oaks, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable still have a strong contingent with eleven fillies among the nominations.
Kiwi trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman won last year’s Australian Oaks with their tough filly Bonneval and have nominated two fillies for this year’s contest, Marcellina and Milseain.
The first acceptances for the 2018 Australian Oaks will be taken on Tuesday March 13 with the final field being declared on Tuesday April 10.
Nominations for the 2018 Australian Oaks (2400m)
| # | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9613x | ALL ABOUT JULIA | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 2 | 438x331x1x | ALL TOO SOON | F | 3 | David Payne |
| 3 | 2x12x5116x | ALOISIA (NZ) | F | 3 | Aaron Purcell |
| 4 | – | ALTERNATIVE FACT (NZ) | F | 3 | Richard Collett |
| 5 | 3721168x | ANCHOR BID | F | 3 | Darren Weir |
| 6 | 16140x | ANGELIC SPIRIT (NZ) | F | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 7 | 11x | ANTELOPE | F | 3 | Gerald Ryan |
| 8 | 33x14921x | AONAIR | F | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 9 | x31x16311x | BANISH | F | 3 | James Cummings |
| 10 | 12x3x | BELLE DU NORD (NZ) | F | 3 | Emma-Lee & David Browne |
| 11 | 7x4401x | BLUE JAY WAY | F | 3 | Grahame Begg |
| 12 | 432102x | BRING ME ROSES | F | 3 | Tony McEvoy |
| 13 | 0x3711455x | BURDEN OF PROOF | F | 3 | Theresa Bateup |
| 14 | 4x9954221x | BYE BYE LOVE | F | 3 | Archie Alexander |
| 15 | 310x | CABIERRO | F | 3 | Anthony Freedman |
| 16 | 713x | CANADIENNE | F | 3 | James Cummings |
| 17 | 32x3x | CAPPAMORE | F | 3 | Jason Coyle |
| 18 | – | CARICATURE (NZ) | F | 3 | Tony Pike |
| 19 | 90x | CHE | F | 3 | Frank Conlan |
| 20 | 8x211x | CHILLY CHA CHA (NZ) | F | 3 | Kris Lees |
| 21 | – | CHOSEN HEIR | F | 3 | Kris Lees |
| 22 | 49x | CINCINNATI RED (NZ) | F | 3 | Leon & Troy Corstens |
| 23 | – | CONTESSA VANESSA (NZ) | F | 3 | Graeme Rogerson |
| 24 | 0x | CRAFTY WARRIOR (NZ) | F | 3 | Kurt Goldman |
| 25 | 133x | CUBAN SIZZLE | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 26 | – | DAIQUIRI LASS | F | 3 | John W Ramsey |
| 27 | 1321x | DANCERS | F | 3 | Brad Widdup |
| 28 | – | DANZDANZDANCE | F | 3 | Donna Logan & Chris Gibbs |
| 29 | 3x4224x | DINNIGAN | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 30 | 61x | DISCREET CHARM | F | 3 | John P Thompson |
| 31 | 1x | DIVINE BREEZE | F | 3 | Mark Newnham |
| 32 | 14x2x | EARTH ANGEL | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 33 | x443x2512x | FIFTH AFFAIR | F | 3 | Garry White |
| 34 | 81x | FURTHER TO FLY | F | 3 | Matthew Dale |
| 35 | 3x629x | GLASGOW GREY (NZ) | F | 3 | John Sargent |
| 36 | 326x | GLOBAL SANCTION | F | 3 | Grahame Begg |
| 37 | 642x40x | GOD SENT | F | 3 | Kurt Goldman |
| 38 | 45x | GOLDEN LILY | F | 3 | John Sargent |
| 39 | 5336x1353x | GRAND THEFT AUTO | F | 3 | Edward O’Rourke |
| 40 | – | GRIS DAME (NZ) | F | 3 | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards |
| 41 | 4x3x | GUIPURE | F | 3 | James Cummings |
| 42 | 62x | HANDS OFF | F | 3 | Matthew Smith |
| 43 | 32x | HAPUKA (NZ) | F | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 44 | 212x | HASAHALO (NZ) | F | 3 | Stephen Mckee |
| 45 | 3x | HAWACAIN | F | 3 | Glen Thompson |
| 46 | 1x7x43x | HIGH LOW BET | F | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 47 | 5x12343x | HIYAAM (NZ) | F | 3 | Mick Price |
| 48 | – | HONFLEUR (NZ) | F | 3 | Tony Pike |
| 49 | 2x655x5x | INDRABEEL (NZ) | F | 3 | Nigel Blackiston |
| 50 | – | INSIGHT (NZ) | F | 3 | Stephen Marsh |
| 51 | 3x | INSPIRANTE (FR) | F | 3 | Aaron Purcell |
| 52 | 532x3x21x | ITALIA BELLA | F | 3 | Stuart Kendrick |
| 53 | 52213x60x | JOYFILLY OURS (NZ) | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 54 | 3x | JUNGLE FISH | F | 3 | Michael Kent |
| 55 | 7046x3x | JUST GORGEOUS | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 56 | 7x4x | KAFFKA | F | 3 | Matthew Smith |
| 57 | – | KAPOOR (NZ) | F | 3 | John Bell |
| 58 | 73x317x12x | LETS GET NAUTI GAL | F | 3 | Kris Lees |
| 59 | – | LOTUS LEAF | F | 3 | David Vandyke |
| 60 | x453690x5x | LUCKY LOUIE | F | 3 | Anthony & Edward Cummings |
| 61 | 5x695x57x | LUDDENHAM LASS | F | 3 | Jeff Englebrecht |
| 62 | 1776214x | LUVALUVA (NZ) | F | 3 | John Sargent |
| 63 | – | LUXE (NZ) | F | 3 | Emma-Lee & David Browne |
| 64 | 4x | MADAME MARKIEVICZ (NZ) | F | 3 | Anthony & Edward Cummings |
| 65 | – | MARCELLINA (NZ) | F | 3 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
| 66 | 63x742x | MARIA VICTORIA | F | 3 | John Sargent |
| 67 | – | MARK TWO (NZ) | F | 3 | Stephen Marsh |
| 68 | 7x | MIDORIYAMA | F | 3 | Robbie Laing |
| 69 | – | MILSEAIN (NZ) | F | 3 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
| 70 | 066x8405x | MISS ADMIRATION | F | 3 | Mick Price |
| 71 | 07x | MISS BOWJANGLES | F | 3 | Matthew Smith |
| 72 | 8221x3x | MISS KYEEMA | F | 3 | Kris Lees |
| 73 | 52402x2x | MISS LILLIAN | F | 3 | Mark Young |
| 74 | 21x6x | MISSYBEEL (NZ) | F | 3 | Bjorn Baker |
| 75 | 8x531x | MUSIC OF THE NIGHT | F | 3 | Pat Carey |
| 76 | – | NAIVASHA | F | 3 | Nigel Blackiston |
| 77 | – | NESMA (NZ) | F | 3 | Mick Price |
| 78 | 11x | OCEAN DEEP (NZ) | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 79 | – | OKOTO | F | 3 | Tony Pike |
| 80 | 611x | PALAZZO VECCHIO | F | 3 | Mick Price |
| 81 | 359x41199x | PANDEMONIUM | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 82 | 111x | PARIS ROCK (NZ) | F | 3 | Henry Dwyer |
| 83 | 5x | PELONOMENA | F | 3 | Darren Weir |
| 84 | – | PIERROCITY | F | 3 | Stephen Marsh |
| 85 | 78x579x | PLAY THAT SONG | F | 3 | Michael Moroney |
| 86 | 9x3323121x | PLEASURING | F | 3 | Darren Weir |
| 87 | – | PONT ALMA | F | 3 | Emma-Lee & David Browne |
| 88 | – | POWER TRANSFORMER | F | 3 | Kris Lees |
| 89 | 6522x | PRINCESS MIA | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 90 | 6x2x | PULANG PULA | F | 3 | Mark Newnham |
| 91 | 2x9x | REALITY SHOW | F | 3 | Nigel Blackiston |
| 92 | 86x97148x | RELIABLE DAME (NZ) | F | 3 | Anthony Freedman |
| 93 | 2x3x | RIDICULE | F | 3 | Brad Widdup |
| 94 | 22x221237x | RIMRAAM (NZ) | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 95 | – | ROC SANDS | F | 3 | Glen Thompson |
| 96 | – | ROCK’N’ROLL MUSIC | F | 3 | Anthony & Edward Cummings |
| 97 | – | ROLL OF THUNDER | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 98 | – | RONDINELLA (NZ) | F | 3 | Roger James |
| 99 | 6x2x | RUCHLA | F | 3 | John Sadler |
| 100 | 3x | SAVVY COUP (NZ) | F | 3 | Michael Pitman |
| 101 | – | SAZAVEE | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 102 | 0x4251802x | SEABABE | F | 3 | Gary Portelli |
| 103 | 136x557x1x | SEANNIE | F | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 104 | 2x4x | SEMARI (NZ) | F | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 105 | 33x | SEMPER FIDELIS | F | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 106 | 4x2147x4x | SHAGRA | F | 3 | David Brideoake |
| 107 | 28x13x0x3x | SHEIKHA | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 108 | 12x | SHUMOOKH | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 109 | 6x | SILENT ROAR | F | 3 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
| 110 | x2735x571x | SMOOTH CELEBRATION | F | 3 | Jason Warren |
| 111 | 4341936x | SNOGGING | F | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 112 | 18x | SO YOU LEICA | F | 3 | Darren Weir |
| 113 | 3523x2x | SOPRESSA | F | 3 | Darren Weir |
| 114 | 233x23312x | STELLA VICTORIA | F | 3 | David Payne |
| 115 | 4x2623422x | STROME | F | 3 | Gary Portelli |
| 116 | 4x | SUPEREGO | F | 3 | Anthony & Edward Cummings |
| 117 | – | SWING NOTE | F | 3 | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards |
| 118 | 21x2134x | TAGREEDA | F | 3 | Mick Price |
| 119 | – | TAM O’SHANTER | F | 3 | Michael Kent |
| 120 | 5306x | TEMOLIE | F | 3 | John Sargent |
| 121 | 3x611x | TEMPLE OF BEL | F | 3 | Archie Alexander |
| 122 | – | TERRA FIRMA (NZ) | F | 3 | Steven Ramsay |
| 123 | – | TERRA SANCTA (NZ) | F | 3 | Tony Pike |
| 124 | 8x | THE PROMISE | F | 3 | John P Thompson |
| 125 | – | THE SAVANT (NZ) | F | 3 | Kris Lees |
| 126 | 8334320x | THINK DIAMONDS | F | 3 | Anthony Freedman |
| 127 | 0x | THINK I’M DREAMING | F | 3 | Henry Dwyer |
| 128 | 42x15x44x | TIARA STAR | F | 3 | Gregory Hickman |
| 129 | 1x | TO YOUR HEALTH | F | 3 | Anthony & Edward Cummings |
| 130 | 7x4x | TORNADO GAL | F | 3 | Brett Cavanough |
| 131 | 643x3253x | TOUCH OF MINK | F | 3 | Matthew Smith |
| 132 | – | TREASURE (NZ) | F | 3 | Tony Pike |
| 133 | 2x13435x5x | TRUE EXCELSIOR (NZ) | F | 3 | Leon & Troy Corstens |
| 134 | 3857x3331x | TUSKAR BROOK | F | 3 | Pat Carey |
| 135 | 72x111x | UNFORGOTTEN | F | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 136 | 7x356x | UNION DUES (NZ) | F | 3 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
| 137 | 33x82200x | UPTOWN GAL | F | 3 | Robbie Laing |
| 138 | 241x21x | WAIMEA BAY | F | 3 | Kris Lees |
| 139 | 71160x | WATCHMESPIN | F | 3 | Danny O’Brien |
| 140 | 632x | WEAVING MAGIC (NZ) | F | 3 | John Sargent |
| 141 | 0x11x | WEDGIE | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 142 | 3x4113x78x | WHISPERED SECRET | F | 3 | Kris Lees |
| 143 | – | WILD SEA | F | 3 | Michael Kent |
| 144 | 54x | YOUNGSTAR | F | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 145 | 1x44241x | YULONG XINGSHENG | F | 3 | Kris Lees |
| 146 | 22x | ZEBREEZ | F | 3 | Leon & Troy Corstens |
| 147 | 1x | ZEDFORCE | F | 3 | John P Thompson |
| 148 | 45x6x | ZOOPHORIA | F | 3 | Nigel Blackiston |
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