Danny O’Brien says Hurry Curry will have no excuses in the VRC Oaks despite missing the Wakeful Stakes

Hurry Curry remains a “live hope” for the Oaks despite missing a key lead-up run after throwing her head back into Jamie Kah’s face.

Hurry Curry has remained on track for the VRC Oaks despite missing the Wakeful Stakes last Saturday.

The Danny O’Brien-trained filly was set to contest the Group 2 but reared up and threw her head back into jockey Jamie Kah’s face.

Stewards scratched Hurry Curry from the Wakeful with Kah required to sit out the race for a medical assessment.

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Kah was cleared to fulfil the remainder of her rides and subsequently won the Group 1 Victoria Derby on Goldrush Guru.

VRC Oaks winner O’Brien said Hurry Curry made up for the missed run with an “excellent” gallop last Sunday at Flemington.

“Six of one, half dozen the other whether we ran in the Wakeful or (went) straight into the Oaks,” O’Brien said.

“When you’ve got a Group 2 here you generally want two goes at it (black type) … it won’t disadvantage her in any way, (missing the run).

“She’ll get back on a dry track … she’ll go in there in good order. I think she’s a live hope.”

Jamie Kah has her nose inspected after copping a blow from Hurry Curry. Picture: 9News

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Hurry Curry is $23 with Ladbrokes for the VRC Oaks.

O’Brien won the 2500m fillies classic in 2019 with Miami Bound.

Hurry Curry won the Oaks Preview (1800m) two starts back and finished fifth in the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) on an unsuitable rain-affected track.

“She’s fit enough,” O’Brien said.

“She won the Oaks Preview five weeks ago, we’ve just been ticking her over.

“She was ready to run 2500m probably at the start of October, no excuses there.”

O’Brien conceded the eventual Wakeful winner-turned-Oaks favourite Treasurethe Moment, trained by Matt Laurie, “was very impressive to my eye”.

“She looks like she’s going to be very hard to get past,” O’Brien said.

Star jockey Joao Moreira will ride Hurry Curry in the Oaks with Kah suspended.

Originally published as Danny O’Brien says Hurry Curry will have no excuses in the VRC Oaks despite missing the Wakeful Stakes