Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Smart filly Miss Hepburn ran a splendid trial for the $150,000 WA Oaks next Friday night when she set the pace and scored an effortless victory in the 2130m The Voice Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
But she is under a cloud after showing signs of lameness in her off hind leg following her two-and-a-half length win over Bonne Amour. Capel trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo will be hoping that she proves her fitness during the week to enable her to contest the Oaks over 2536m.
“She is tough and has won the Country Oaks over 2569m at Bunbury last month, while some of the other Oaks runners have not yet run over 2500m,” said De Campo.
Miss Hepburn, the $1.60 favourite, dashed straight to the front from the No. 3 barrier on Friday night and was able to dawdle through the lead time in 38.8sec. and the opening 400m section in 31.5sec. She covered the final quarter in 28.2sec. and was untroubled to beat $41 chance Bonne Amour.
This took Miss Hepburn’s record to 20 starts for six wins, nine placings and $130,707. She is by former star pacer Ultimate Machete and is the sixth foal out of Grinfromeartoear mare Montanas Smile.