Kiwi filly Pennyweka too strong for her rivals in gruelling Australian Oaks

Kiwi filly Pennyweka outstayed her opponents as the Group 1 Australian Oaks turned into a war of attrition at Randwick.

Damian Lane pilots Pennyweka to a commanding win in the Australian Oaks at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Pennyweka showed superior stamina to snare a rare Oaks double at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The Group 1 $1m ATC Australian Oaks (2400m) turned into a war of attrition with 81 lengths separation first to last with Pennyweka the strongest stayer.

Jim Wallace trains out of Opaki in New Zealand and had not had a runner in Sydney for 20 years but he might not wait long to have his next after Pennyweka won the fillies classic.

Pennyweka became only the third filly to complete the New Zealand Oaks-ATC Australian Oaks double after Bonneval (2017) and Domino (1990).

The New Zealander gets it done! 💪🇳🇿

Pennyweka becomes a dual Oaks winner 🏆👏 pic.twitter.com/6SwlzrgDdv

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) April 8, 2023

Wallace, who said his last Sydney runner was Cent Home in the 2003 All Aged Stakes, had left it to Pennyweka to “tell him” if she should back-up in the ATC Australian Oaks after her New Zealand Oaks success last month.

“Pennyweka told me – I was convinced that after the Oaks she’d be ready for it,’’ Wallace said.

“She came out on the Monday, trotted up and the girl who rides her all the time said to me, ‘she feels better today than she did on Friday’.

“She carried on that week and did nothing wrong so we thought, ‘oh well, we’ll roll the dice’ and here we are. First time away from home and she travelled like an old toff.’’

Pennyweka ($4.80 equal favourite) gave Melbourne-based jockey Damian Lane a second successive ATC Australian Oaks when she scored by nearly two lengths from the game So Dazzling ($20) with Premise ($17) three lengths away third.

There were three equal favourites in the Oaks with Arts finishing fifth and early leader Pavitra seventh.

Damian Lane returns to scale on Pennyweka. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Mountain Guest finished 50 lengths behind the winner in second last position while Pierossa was basically pulled out of the race and was 81 lengths behind the winner.

Lane, who won the Oaks last year on El Patroness, said Pennyweka was “exceptional”.

“She was obviously well prepared by Mr Wallace and has been going great over the ditch (in New Zealand),’’ Lane said.

“I was the only horse travelling on the corner and we put them to the sword in the straight.

“She is so tough. When I was doing her form, she started racing in September, had a short six week let-up through December and she’s raced all the way since January.

“For Mr Wallace to have her up that long it was a great effort. She is just tough and she has a heart bigger than herself.’’

Originally published as Kiwi filly Pennyweka too strong for her rivals in gruelling Australian Oaks