Nightline’s dominant victory in Saturday’s Listed Moët & Chandon Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) has stamped her as a leading contender for next month’s Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m). The Redwood filly, a $75,000 Karaka Book 2 purchase for Tony and Maddysen Sears in conjunction with Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Catheryne Bruggeman, again showed the class that has delivered four wins and two placings from just eight starts and close to A$300,000 in stakes.
Ridden cold by former Kiwi jockey Mark Du Plessis, Nightline settled ninth as Spicy Lu and New Zealand Oaks placegetter Single Red controlled the speed. Turning for home, Single Red kicked strongly and looked the winner, but Du Plessis coolly angled Nightline through a narrowing gap before unleashing her trademark sprint. Charging down the outside, she swept past in the final 50m to score with authority and secure her first black-type success.
The win followed her Eagle Way (2100m) triumph in January and a luckless third on wet ground in the Listed Princess Stakes. With firmer footing and more distance, Nightline’s performance oozed of Oaks quality, and the TAB reacted swiftly, tightening her from $11 into $6 – now a strong winning chance and seeing her second favourite for the A$700,000 classic.
Bred by Westbury Stud’s Gerry Harvey, Nightline is the first foal of El Roca mare Decimal. Her younger brother has sold for $100,000 to leading Melbourne trainer Patrick Payne in January, a full sister is earmarked for Karaka 2027, and Decimal is booked back to Redwood for this season – Should a Queensland Oaks victory be forthcoming, the pedigree will have made sharp improvement in a very short time.