Good Feeling about the 2025 VRC Oaks with Wakeful winner

Mark Zahra’s dominance in major spring lead-ups continued on Saturday when Getta Good Feeling produced a smooth and decisive victory that now sees her sit atop the VRC Oaks market.

The So You Think filly toyed with her rivals in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m), giving Danny O’Brien’s stable another live Oaks chance heading toward Thursday.

Zahra allowed her to cruise early before letting her lengthen in the straight, and it was quickly apparent she had the measure of the field.

“She’s a very nice horse to ride,” Zahra said.

“She flew the start, then I was able to sit outside the leader on a moderate tempo, relaxed really well (and) she stargazed pretty much all the way up the straight.

“She did it effortlessly. With a bit of urging she focused a bit and it was just the sort of win you hope for going into an Oaks.”

Her prior run — a placing in the Group 1 Guineas — had signaled she was building strongly, and she delivered as the $1.60 favourite.

Strictly Business ($12) finished second, with long-priced Voting Rights ($41) in third.

The stable will now attempt to replicate their 2019 Wakeful–Oaks double achieved with Miami Bound.

“We’ve made no secret of our respect for this filly from her first start in Geelong and we’ve had this week in mind for her,” trainer Danny O’Brien said.

“It doesn’t always play out as smoothly as what it has for her this spring but, so far so good.

“She’s going to go to the Oaks in great shape. She’s a filly that is big and strong by So You Think.

“He won a Mackinnon Stakes on this day about 15 years ago and he’s passed away so it is great to see his filly turning up and winning this and hopefully the Oaks on Thursday.”