After a dominating win in Saturday's G2 Wakeful Stakes, Shamardal filly Faint Perfume (pictured) justified odds-on favouritism to take today's VRC Oaks at Flemington, providing her sire with his first G1 winner.
Settling last after getting away from the gates well, the Bart Cummings-trained filly tracked the second favourite Valdemoro every step of the way. Ridden patiently throughout by jockey Michael Rodd, Faint Perfume made her run at the 800m to tackle the leaders in the shadows of the post to record a neck victory.
Becoming the 33rd filly to compete the Wakeful-VRC Oaks double, Faint Perfume gave her iconic trainer Bart Cummings his ninth winner of the Classic race.
Bred by Wynyarra Stud and co-owner Dato Tan Chin Nam, Faint Perfume's pedigree indicates that the Oaks was always within her grasp. Out of a Zabeel daughter of the G1 winning filly Danendri, who herself finished second in the VRC Oaks after winning the Wakeful Stakes, the three-year-old filly is likely try and emulate her granddam by taking out the G1 AJC Oaks in the Autumn.
Shamardal has enjoyed a sensational season in the southern hemisphere, not only through the deeds of Faint Perfume, but also G3 Norman Robinson Stakes winner Shamoline Warrior and Run For Wilson -winner of the first two-year-old Stakes race of the season.
Earlier in the day, talented four-year-old Exceed And Excel mare Very Discreet recorded her third consecutive Stakes win when running out the half-length winner of the Listed Crown Promenade Stakes at Flemington.
Settling just off the pace, the Richard Jolly-trained mare worked home too well for the rest of the field, defeating fellow Exceed And Excel mare Seeking Attention. Coming from last place to take third, Lonhro mare Serenissima gave Darley stallions a one-two-three finish in the second race of the day.
"The intention is to spell her and ideally we're looking at the G1 Robert Sangster next year in Adelaide," Jolly said.
Bred by South Australian David Peacock, Very Discreet is out of the G3-winning Euclase mare She's Discreet. Having visited Darley stallions for the past seven seasons, She's Discreet was recently covered by 2006 World Champion three-year-old Bernardini.
Exceed And Excel is enjoying another stellar season, currently sitting atop the third-season sires' table with 28 individual winners, two clear of barn mate Lonhro.
Lightly-raced Lonhro filly Trim continued a spectacular carnival for the Darley stallions when providing them with another top three finish, winning the Listed TCL Electronics Stakes.
Yet to finish further than back than second place from four starts, Trim defeated Shamardal filly Marquardt by half a length with Exceed And Excel filly Cinecitta, who took up the running, holding on to third place to record her first Black-type.
Racing in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed, the three-year-old filly was bred by Woodlands Stud and is from the G3 winning Night Shift mare Firm. From the family of Stakes winning Strategic gelding Desuetude, Trim is now likely to spell in preparation for an Autumn campaign.
Meanwhile at Hawkesbury, Lonhro's daughter Beaded took her record to six wins from eight starts with victory in the Listed Yalumba Wines Cup, providing her sire with his second new Stakes winner of the day.
The fifth and sixth Stakes winners for Lonhro this season, Trim and Beaded join Denman, Demerit, Deer Valley and O'Lonhro in aiding their sire who currently holds the top position on the third-season sires' table by prize money.
