‘Match race’ for Oaks

Press, 22 May 1981, Page 10

‘Match race’ for Oaks

Special correspondent Auckland

The North Island Oaks at Alexandra Park tomorrow night looks like being a “match race’’ between the country’s outstanding fillies, Time’s Up and Yvette Bromac.

They are easily the most tightly assessed (both are on C 8) thr'P-year-olds in the country and the one that comes out on top will be ■'ustly entitled to No.l ranking. - r ime’s Up is better off at the start than Yvette Bromac and this almost certainly will result in the Christchurch filly being the favourite. With several horses which are at present balloted out drawn ’aside her and unlikely to start, Time’s Up will be at a handy position in the front line at the 2700 m barrier. There is little chance, however, of Yvette Bromac gaining a front-row start. Yvette Bromac may not be unduly disadvantaged. When she won the DB Flying Fillies Stakes final at Alexandra Park last month — Time’s Up was second — she wound up with an ideal run, one out and one back.

Time’s Up squared the

account when she won the McCarthy Ladyship Stakes on May 9 but in that race Yvette Bromac, which was s xth, had a poor passage. Both have been b.uten since. Time’s Up was only eighth in the Adams Memorial last Saturday, and Yvette Bromac was a disappointing fifth in the Global Hall Stakes.

With a mobile dispatch, the Oaks really is about 2800 m, a stern test of stamina for three-year-old fillies. This should not trouble Time’s Up:; or Yvette Brom because they have shown themselves to be solid stayers. If the unexpected happens and Time’s Up and Yvette Bromac are beaten, the most likely to take the honours would appear to be Verona or Up Tempo, with Strident and Tiogas Lady looking to be the best of the others. Verona has won three of her last five races, the last two on end. Her latest success was at Alexandra Park last Saturday when she scored stylishly in the 2200 m Global Hall Stake... Verona has improved steadily and she has obviously reached peak form at the right time.