Oakleigh Girl wins Calaway Gal Stakes but doesn't enhance Magic Millions prospects

OAKLEIGH GIRL kept her unbeaten record in tact, but her Magic Millions prospects were not necessarily enhanced on Saturday.

Oakleigh Girl, ridden by Michael Cahill, win at Doomben. Picture: Steve Pohlner

OAKLEIGH GIRL kept her unbeaten record in tact, but her Magic Millions prospects were not necessarily enhanced in winning Saturday's Listed Calaway Gal Stakes.

The Dan Bougoure trained Flemington winner looked under siege soon after turning when challenged by first starter Ambitious Blonde, but found extra when needed to win.

Bougoure said the Snitzel filly was probably "10 to 15 per cent" short of the level in which she stripped at Flemington and is confident plenty of improvement is to come.

Ambitious Blonde's jockey Ryan Wiggins is adamant his filly will turn the tables when they clash at 1200m next time.

"Over six furlongs next start I will dead-set have the winner cold," Wiggins said.

"She wasn't going anywhere under the stick and when I put it away she came again in the last 50m. She's a serious racehorse."

Bougoure opted to run Oakleigh Girl yesterday instead of trialling her on Thursday and he has an extra $64,000 and another Listed win to show for it.

"She put a bit of a scare into the camp, but she's very tenacious and has a never say die attitude," Bougoure said.

"She was a bit fresh today and a bit on the big side. Going to 1200m next time will tighten her up for the Magic Millions."

Michael Cahill described the win as quite impressive, but wasn't totally sold on her running a strong 1200m.

"She knuckled down nicely and has a bit of improvement up her sleeve," Cahill said.

"If she can draw well it would be a big help in a Magic Millions."

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IT was a little like back to the future for Toby Edmonds when Bassillique burst a few bubbles in the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes at Doomben.

While favourite backers were "in pain" from the get-go, Bassillique secured a charmed run under Ric McMahon in beating fellow first starter Goluana and Boom Box.

Edmonds took particular satisfaction in the win because Bassillique is the first stakes winner for I Am Invincible, a horse he plucked out of the 2006 Inglis Classic Sale for $62,500.

"Being by a horse I bought and trained it's very special," Edmonds said.

"I Am Invincible is a great looking stallion and had amazing ability. Unfortunately he had bad feet and was very unsound.

"This colt is very sound."

Edmonds had to go a little higher for Bassillique, $160,000 to be precise, but he looks certain to repay that faith.

"He's still very new and he's an untapped talent," he said.

Edmonds admitted he wasn't sure if this race was the right form line for the Magic Millions but he will monitor the colt's progress before making any decisions.

McMahon said he couldn't believe the charmed run he was afforded.

"I trialled him on Tuesday and was thinking if it was a 1200m race he would have been very hard to beat," he said.

"I was just worried 1000m was going to be a bit sharp.

"As it turned out, the favourite was four deep in a line of four and I was getting the cosiest run you'll ever see and was able to travel the whole way.

"I hadn't spent a penny coming to the turn and got the nice run through.

"He was getting a bit tired the last 50m, but he'd done his job."

Stewards opened an inquiry into the defeat of $1.60 pop Vienna Royale, who veered left at the start and nearly dislodged jockey Michael Cahill.

The son of Falvelon was able to muster speed after that but was posted four wide giving Cahill a torrid ride by wanting to hang the whole way and was the first horse beaten when heads turned for home.

"You can't do that many things wrong and be a chance in a Magic Millions," a disappointed Cahill said.