National Futurity winner Rue De Kahn has not raced at Richmond but trainer DEAN Swain says she has had "heaps of trials" on the track in preparation for Saturday night’s second heat of the Unibet Oaks.
And DEAN revealed that Rue De Kahn, who has drawn box six on Saturday, recorded her fastest straight track trial on Tuesday.
After Rue De Kahn ran down the strong Fire Elusive and then comfortably held off powerful finisher My Boy Snoop to win at Wentworth Park last Saturday, DEAN trialled her at Box Hill.
"She usually runs 18.80 or 18.90 there but clocked 18.58 on Tuesday," a jubilant DEAN said.
"But Rue De Kahn does not always produce her best race form when she trials on her own.
"Before one of her best wins she trialled poorly at Richmond and after that I realised she is a race bitch, not a trial bitch.
"But prior to last week’s Wenty win she clocked 22.60 over 400m at Richmond and then went quick in a post-to-post slip there so she is flying.
"Rue De Kahn will be my first starter in a Richmond Oaks, a race my father Sid won with Sailing several years ago.
"I was tempted to take Rue De Kahn to Melbourne for this week’s Sapphire Crown at Sandown but decided against it.
"I have unhappy memories of that race because Unopposed, a bitch I trained, was hot favourite for a Sapphire Crown final and when she drew box eight all the experts in Melbourne told me she was a special.
"But she got knocked down and finished third."
Leading Richmond trainer Doreen Drynan is seldom without a starter in a major race at her local track and she has Chica Destacada in box five in the third Oaks heat.
Chica Destacada has won at Wentworth Park in a brilliant 29.73 and Doreen says she is every bit as good at Richmond.
"I won the 2002 Richmond Derby with Tourist Dan," Doreen recalled.
"But I can’t remember if I have had a runner in the Richmond Oaks.
"Chica Destacada is very fit but I’m not confident about her being able to beat Jason Mackay’s Ladies Bracelet winner Zipping Willow."
But while Zipping Willow has won five of her eight starts from box eight, her draw on Saturday, she has often missed the start from the outside trap.
Chica Destacada looks well boxed in five because she tends to race in the centre of the track and should get a dream run courtesy of Premier Mozz and Black Empress.
They have boxes three and four respectively and each is a fast beginner who veers left at box rise.
Richmond trainer Anthony Azzopardi should win heats one and four of the Richmond Oaks with Ready To Riot and Kulu Special.
Ready To Riot is inclined to step to the right at the start but she has wide running stayer Eleazar outside her in box two so should get room to move.
Eleazar is a kennelmate of Rue De Kahn and DEAN Swain has warned punters against writing her off.
"Eleazar can run scorching times in solo trials and has clocked 22.40 over the 400m and 30.42 over the 535m Oaks distance at Richmond," DEAN said.
"But I would have preferred her drawn wide."
Best Bet: Romantic Affair (Race 8)
Best Value: Smart Rip (Race 4)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 6, 1
Race 6 -5, 8
Race 7 – 3, 4, 1
Race 8 – 1, 2, 5
$20 for 55.55%
