Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf: Oodnadatta still improving
Oodnadatta will start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Friday at Keeneland without the benefit of a stakes win in her brief career in Ireland. Judging from the company she faced in recent starts, the losses should not be held against the filly, who will be ridden by top Irish jockey Shane Foley.
Trained by Jessica Harrington, Oodnadatta was third in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at seven furlongs on Sept. 13 at The Curragh. Oodnadatta was a 22-1 outsider, but closed with interest to finish 2 1/2 lengths behind race winner Shale and 1 3/4 lengths behind runner-up Pretty Gorgeous.
On Oct. 9, Pretty Gorgeous won the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket, England. Shale and Pretty Gorgeous were not sent to Keeneland.
Named for a city in the Australian outback, Oodnadatta is by the Galileo stallion Australia and was bred in Ireland. The one-mile distance of the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf will suit Oodnadatta, Harrington said in a recent email. Oodnadatta won her debut in a maiden race at seven furlongs at Leopardstown, a flat left-handed course.
“Oodnadatta was very good around Leopardstown and the step up to a mile should be of benefit to her, being by Australia,” Harrington said. “I was delighted with her run in the Moyglare. She has progressed and matured through the season, and I am hoping we haven’t seen the best of her yet.”
A former Olympic-class three-day event rider, Harrington, 73, is well known for her success in recent decades with jump horses, notably Sizing John, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in England in 2017.
Harrington had her first Breeders’ Cup runner last year when Albigna finished fourth in the Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita.
Foley is the regular rider of many of Harrington’s runners. Foley also has Breeders’ Cup mounts for Harrington on Cadillac in the Juvenile Turf and Cayenne Pepper in the Filly and Mare Turf. Foley will finish second in the jockey standings this year in Ireland behind Colin Keane, who is booked to ride Siskin in the BC Mile.
Foley is likely to have Oodnadatta in a stalking position in a big field in the Juvenile Fillies turf.
“Just off the pace would be ideal, but she has shown that she is versatile in that regard,” Harrington said.
“She’s a lovely relaxed straightforward filly that loves her work. She has matured through the season and will be a nicer filly next year, but I think she will handle the traveling and buzz of the Breeders’ Cup very well.”