“He has bounced through the Derby. We gave him a week off at the farm and he put on so much weight, he certainly hasn’t come to the end of his campaign – he is made of steel this horse.”
“She hasn’t bred for a few years and she hangs around the farm. She’s got a great constitution and the hardest thing is trying to keep the weight off her.”
Group Three winner Burn To Shine made a pleasing return to the trials at Tauranga on Tuesday when taking out his 950m heat under a hold, beating Group Two performer Wessex by a nose.
A return to compete in front of Warrnambool’s boisterous crowd could be on the cards for Nassak Diamond following her dominant win in Sunday’s Jericho Cup (4600m).
The Oaks Stud has a great association with the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and the Cambridge farm are hoping to extend their legacy in the Riccarton Classic next month with Burn To Shine.
All the key indicators point to continued success for The Oaks Stud’s young resident stallion U S Navy Flag, although experience has taught General Manager Rick Williams to never look too far ahead.
