Being a local makes it special for Kerry Drynan. The fact that her mother has won one of the big features on the Richmond club’s big night several years back, only adds to the significance if she was to be able to win the Richmond Oaks next Friday.
After her bitch Kurios Motion won her heat of the Oaks in a blistering 30.38s, Kerry stood behind the boxes shaking her head. It wasn’t simply about the slashing time, but moreso the way it was achieved.
Kurios Motion is strong, she’s not a front runner. Not until last night, when she flew out and gave nothing else a chance.
“It’s enormous. That’s a big surprise to me. Just the way she flew out and led like that. These are all good bitches,” Drynan said.
“I didn’t give her a chance at all, so to see her out in front was pretty amazing.”
Once in front, with her strength it was unlikely anything would run past her.
“I guess so. She always gets to the line well at Wentworth Park so she’s got a bit of strength there. I’ve kept her very fresh this week, pretty much on the lead all week, and she was really on her toes in the stir up.”
Asked about the importance of her local track features, Kerry said: “Absolutely it means something.
Years ago, it was a while ago now, but mum won the Derby and being my local track … of course this means something.”
Kurios Motion had 4¼ lengths to spare over Victorian How Not Too, whose trainer Anthony Azzopardi won the Oaks with Blue Sky Riot back in 2018.
Another impressive heat winner was Rob Tyler’s Crazy Cool who clocked 30.59s in defeating Diamantini Rose.
“She went really well, and I’m really pleased,” Tyler said. “She’s never been here before and she went to Melbourne for the Australian Cup heats, and she pulled up a bit scratchy and we were running against time to get her to the track tonight, but she will now improve on that next week.
“She came from Bob Jacobsen. He had the dog Roddy Robby who I ran third in Wentworth Park (National) Derby with and he sent her down to me.
“She’s settled in really well and I expect her to improve a lot now. Like I said I couldn’t gallop her this week, but she went good.”
A year ago Allen Williams trained Zest To Excel to win her heat of the Oaks, then in the final she had absolutely no luck. She now has a chance for redemption having won her heat again and qualified for the final.
“I’m over the moon, to come through again, and she was a good thing beaten last year. I’m very, very happy,” Williams said. “I thought she would run well and I took plenty of the $18, so I’m happy.
“Last year we won the heat and were in a prominent position going through the first turn then got flattened and went back to last before running home and was only just beaten (3/4 length).
“I’m looking forward to it, it will be a great final.”
The unlucky runner was the runner-up Ice Cream Story who knuckled at the start then charged home to be beaten in a photo.
Trainer David Smith explained she tried to anticipate the start and when she gets it right she flies out, but when she doesn’t she hits the lids and misses it.
“She didn’t begin too well, but she did what she needed to do and hopefully she can change her luck in big finals,” Smith said.
“She tries to anticipate it and sometimes she can land in front, but the risk is sometimes she hits the lids.”
Smith did have better luck in the final heat of the Oaks when Super Estrella scored her third straight win.
“She went really well,” Smith said. “I think she’ll develop into a middle distance, staying type. She’s only 20 months old still so she has a bit ahead of her but I was really pleased tonight.”
