Curious Girl romps home a wide margin winner despite carrying joint topweight (JC Photos)
The Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Futura filly Curious Girl was backed in from 4/1 to 5/2 in Saturday’s Non-Black Type Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial over 2000m and never looked like losing under Gavin Lerena, despite her 86 merit rating meaning she had to carry joint topweight of 60kg under the merit rated band conditions of the race.
Her 86 merit rating did not put her at the top of her band either and she was officially 1kg under sufferance with the 88-rated Lady Blunt, who was also set to carry 60kg. As it was not a black type event Lady Blunt also benefited from Rachel Venniker’s 1,5kg gender claim.
However, Curious Girl proved way better than an 86 merit rating over this trip and ran out a 5,75 length winner.
Curious Girl has got better and better in line with her becoming more mature and stepping up in trip, which is the typical pattern of her sire Futura’s progeny. She had previously won three out of five starts and the two lossses were over 1600m and the three wins from 1800m up to 2400m.
The Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara-chasing Hazy Dazy might now have a harder task of winning the third and final leg of that series, the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks over 2450m, than had been previously thought, especially considering Curious Girl has won over a staying trip before.
That is if Curious Girl runs in the Oaks.
Mathew de Kock told the Sporting Post on Saturday she would be entered, alongside Listed Hawwaam Stakes fourth-placed Councillor, but running them would be given careful consideration in consultation with the owners.
He said, “Both fillies risk significant penalties from the handicapper even for minor placings in the Oaks. Curious Girl is likely to move into the MR90s after her win today, while Councillor is rated 84 – massive increases after the Oaks could carry potentially career-limiting consequences.”
On Saturday Lerena got Curious Girl over nicely from draw seven into a midfield position with cover and within striking distance of the pace, which was set by Clouds Clearing.
In the straight the Riyo Stud-bred Curious Girl’s rangy style saw her eating up the ground and she had taken the lead by the 300m mark.
She then simply galloped away from them.
The tall filly’s big stride made the rest of the field look like small horses and the bonus for her future is that she still looks a touch gangly, so has scope for further furnishing.
The 15/10 favourite Into Dancing was receiving 1,5kg from Curious Girl and stayed on for second.
In third place was joint topweight Ethical and next best were Scarlet O’Hara and Lady Blunt.
There was 9,45 lengths between first and sixth in the 14 horse field and Curious Girl’s time was 1,63 seconds faster than Diogenes time, despite her having to carry 6kg more weight.
It all augurs well for Curious Girl’s future and it would be surprising if she did not have a tilt at the Oaks as she looks to be going places.
Curious Girl is owned by Hollywood Racing, who bought her at the National Yearling Sale for R160,000.
