Australia: Soul Choice favored for Fipke in Tasmanian Oaks

In her brief career, Soul Choice has thrived in marathon races on the Australian island of Tasmania.

After finishing a game second in the Launceston Guineas at 1 5/16 miles at Launceston Racecourse on Jan. 27 in her stakes debut, Soul Choice won the Strutt Stakes for 3-year-old Southern Hemisphere fillies at the same distance by 2 1/2 lengths at Hobart Racecourse on Feb. 10.

Soul Choice will have a quick turnaround for the $103,000 Tasmanian Oaks at 1 5/16 miles at Launceston on Saturday evening. Owned and bred by prominent North American horseman Charles Fikpe, Soul Choice was the 4-5 favorite in early betting on Friday to beat seven rivals in the Tasmanian Oaks.

By the late stallion Redoute’s Choice, Soul Choice is out of Thislilsoulofmine, an Ontario-bred mare who was a two-time winner on turf at Woodbine for Fipke. Soul Choice is Fipke’s first stakes winner in Australia.

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Soul Choice, trained by Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse, has won 2 of 5 starts in a career that only began in early December. Soul Choice won her second start in a maiden race at a mile at Terang Racecourse on the Australian mainland on Dec. 20.

In the Tasmanian Oaks, Soul Choice is expected to be prominent from the start from post 4.

Badda Boom Baby, a winner of 2 of 6 starts, will race at 1 5/16 miles for the first time in the Tasmanian Oaks. Trained by Annabel Neasham, Badda Boom Baby won for the second time in her last three starts in a minor handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Scone Racecourse on the mainland on Jan. 27. Badda Boom Baby was the 5-2 second choice as of Friday.

Just a Needs and Cloudy Nights, second and third in the Strutt Stakes, return in the Tasmanian Oaks.

The Tasmanian Oaks is part of an eight-race program beginning at 11:19 p.m. Eastern or 8:19 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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