Rare Oaks double secured by Ohope Wins

Chris Waller and James McDonald's unbeatable trainer-jockey combination kept rolling in the Sydney autumn carnival Group 1s, highlighted by Ohope Wins's victory in a pulsating $1 million ATC Australian Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The pair has now notched a Group 1 win every Saturday for a record seven weeks in a row, starting from Autumn Glow in the Verry Elleegant Stakes on February 28.

Sydney's leading trainer and jockey have shown outstanding form over this time, and next Saturday they will reunite with Fangirl for the All Aged Stakes and Campione D'Italia in the Champagne Stakes to close the carnival.

Ohope Wins, newly under Waller's guidance, marked her place in history as the fourth filly to claim the New Zealand Oaks-ATC Australian Oaks double, emulating Pennyweka (2023), Bonneval (2017) and Domino (1990).

The trainer praised ex-trainer Lance O'Sullivan for much of Ohope Wins's Oaks achievement.

"Obviously I've been gifted this lovely filly by Yulong and Lance O'Sullivan did a great job with her prior to coming to me,'' Waller said.

"Plus they gave me a hand with her as well, they were very friendly and very helpful which we've got to thank them for.

"It wasn't hard to have her ready for this race because you know the horse is good enough, it was just about keeping it simple.

"I think she needed the run (4th in the Vinery Stud Stakes) and speaking with Lance, the confidence he had in her, he said she's one of the best horses that he's ever had anything to deal with so it's a pretty big comment coming from him.''

As the $2.60 market leader, Ohope Wins powered home to collar the resilient Profoundly ($3.20) by a long neck, with After Summer ($9.50) just a half head behind in third.

The Oaks's rapid tempo was ideal for Ohope Wins, according to McDonald.

"I always had a plan to ride her quietly,'' McDonald said."I was blessed when the pace went on and it never stopped so it was going to be the toughest stayer and that's exactly what she was.

"She's a very gritty filly. She had enough on the line, the other two were brave (Profoundly 2nd, After Summer 3rd) and it was lucky we were on a good horse."

This marked Waller's fifth success in the ATC Australian Oaks aboard Ohope Wins, but readying a rising four-year-old mare for the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup isn't his standard approach.

Verry Elleegant claimed the 2019 ATC Australian Oaks but bypassed the spring Cups in her four-year-old year.

She then won the Caulfield Cup at five and the Melbourne Cup the following year as a six-year-old.

Ohope Wins is due for a break now, Waller noted, with spring plans for the stayer yet to be decided.

Michael Freedman's Profoundly seemed destined for victory after surging clear over the rise, only for Ohope Wins to chase her down swiftly, turning what looked like a bigger margin into a hard-fought long neck.

After Summer confirmed her staying promise with consecutive Group 1 podium finishes, improving on her second to Belle Cheval in the Vinery Stud Stakes by grabbing a near third in the Oaks.

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