Dubai Goldrush out to repay faith and late fee in Group 1 Australian Oaks

The Australian Oaks wasn’t on the radar until Dubai Goldrush until her staying ability started to show in New Zealand, and her trainer was only too happy to pay the late entry fee.

New Zealand filly Dubai Goldrush was a late entry in the Australian Oaks field. Picture: Kenton Wright/Race Images

Trainer Pam Gerard is trusting Kiwi raider Dubai Goldrush to make a $22,000 late entry fee look like a wise investment in Saturday’s Group 1 $1m Australian Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick.

Gerard only paid up for the three-year-old fillies feature 24 hours before acceptances for the race.

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Dubai Goldrush was still a maiden when nominations were due for The Championships so coming to Australia for an Oaks campaign wasn’t on the radar.

The daughter of Pride Of Dubai has since shown her staying potential across the Tasman.

Dubai Goldrush was third in the Group 2 Lowlands Stakes (2100m) before finishing a close runner-up to Leica Lucy in the NZ Oaks (2400m) at Te Rapa.

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“I think she made big improvement back at home from the Lowlands to the NZ Oaks for our filly and I think she can improve again, I am hoping,” Gerard said.

“She will need to be competitive over here but I am really happy with her and we wouldn’t have paid the late nomination if she didn’t we had half a shot at running in the money or doing something.

“I am happy with happy with mine.”

New Zealand filly Dubai Goldrush was a late entry in the Australian Oaks field. Picture: Kenton Wright/Race Images

Gerard went close to claiming a Group 1 at her last visit to Australia last month with Savaglee finishing a close second in the Australian Guineas.

She concedes the Australian fillies present a significant challenge, headlined by recent Vinery Stud Stakes winner Treasurethe Moment.

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Treasurethe Moment is the $1.70 favourite to complete the VRC-Australian Oaks double while Dubai Goldrush is at $17.

“You have got some little superstars here at the moment,” Gerard said.

“Certainly they look very special but if we can get up and beat the Kiwi (Leica Lucy) we’d be pretty happy with that.

“They are only three once and it’s a good chance to take out filly away and I think she will only improve as a four-year-old.”

Mark Zahra will partner Dubai Goldrush.

Originally published as Dubai Goldrush out to repay faith and late fee in Group 1 Australian Oaks