Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Victorian filly Soho Seraphine made a brilliant West Australian debut and showed that she will take a power of beating in the $150,000 WA Oaks next Friday night when she scored a runaway win in the 2130m Sunday Times Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Driven in fine style by Kyle Harper, Soho Seraphine, the $1.20 favourite, was smartest to begin from out wide at barrier eight and took the lead after 120m, set the pace and strolled to victory by three and a half lengths from the $9 second fancy Purest Copper, who trailed her throughout.
Soho Seraphine coasted through the opening quarters in 31.5sec. and 29.9sec. before sprinting over the final 400m sections in 28.6sec. and 27.8sec. to record a 1.56.9 mile rate.
Experienced Victorian trainer Ian Stanley, father of Soho Seraphine’s trainer Mick Stanley, declared that the filly was cherry ripe for a tilt at the WA Oaks over 2536m.
“Michael will arrive in Perth next Friday and will drive Soho Seraphine in the Oaks,” he said.
Mick Stanley remained in Melbourne on Friday to drive Rock N Roll Doo in the Kilmore Cup after that pacer had won at his two previous starts — in the Group 1 Len Smith Mile at Menangle and the Maryborough Gold Cup. Rock N Roll Doo, winner of the 2022 Kilmore Cup, was last in the field of twelve at the bell in Friday night’s race before finishing strongly to be fifth behind Better Eclipse.
“Soho Seraphine has good gate speed and is a very well gaited filly,” said Ian Stanley. “The 2536m of the Oaks will suit her. Last February she won a heat of New South Wales Oaks at Menangle before she led in the final and finished second after being run down late by a filly who had the sit on her.
“She has settled in perfectly after arriving here and has not missed a grain. She is drinking well, is relaxed and is enjoying everything.”
Soho Seraphine is by Betting Line and is the first foal out of the Mach Three mare Angel Bromac, who raced 14 times for four wins, five placings and stakes of $56,500.