After Summer set for the 2025 VRC Oaks

Emerging stayer After Summer thrust herself into the VRC Oaks (2500m) conversation with an authoritative on-pace victory in Sunday’s Crown Oaks Preview (1800m) at Flemington.

Given a positive ride by Billy Egan, the $14 outsider controlled the tempo before sprinting clear to defeat Seychelles ($4.20) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Classic Gem ($5.50) finishing a close third. The final time was almost ten seconds outside the track record, underlining the dawdling early pace.

Trainer Dominic Sutton, already a Group 1 winner with Australian Guineas hero Feroce, said the effort was encouraging without being a searching test. “They were going to crawl and she was up on the bridle, so he did the right thing in letting her stride a little bit. It was more like a trial than a race with the speed they went. She never looked like getting beaten.”

He added that the path to November remains fluid. “We’re still a long way out. We’ll assess how she pulls up, get her home, and plot the best way forward. If she makes it to the Oaks this spring, fantastic; if not, we’ll put her away and aim at the autumn.”

Egan said leading wasn’t part of the strategy but circumstances dictated. “We didn’t think she quite had the race smarts to lead and be the bunny for something else. But she jumped, landed there, and was too good. I was worried I might’ve gone too slow, but she showed a sharp turn of foot.”

Sutton reiterated that After Summer was always purchased with the Oaks in mind. “She’s one we identified early, and The Autumn Sun’s progeny are doing a terrific job, especially the fillies. This was always the plan, and hopefully we can pull it off.”