Exciting changes to qualification for John Gibson NSW Oaks

Sergeant Lou winning the Simpson Memorial at Menangle. Photo by Club Menangle.

IT’S one of the richest events for fillies on the NSW harness racing calendar.

And now Club Menangle is introducing a new path for fillies hoping to mount a challenge for the Group One $200,000 John Gibson NSW Oaks at Club Menangle on May 4.

The Oaks is one of the premier events at the Pacing For Pink night and Club Menangle has decided to add to the qualifying events for the Oaks, thanks to the assistance of the Young Harness Racing Club.

The Golden Easter Egg, to be run on Saturday, April 6 is one way to automatically qualify for a start in the Oaks.

Now there is also a new feature event, the Young Oaks on Friday, April 12, which will also have automatic qualification for the NSW Oaks, with both events to be worth $30,000 and open to all three-year-old fillies.

This follows the success of a NSW Derby qualifying event, the Simpson Memorial, which saw Victorian visitor Sergeant Lou score a convincing win to earn a start in the blue riband event, the $200,000 Slingsby Holdings NSW Derby at Club Menangle on March 9.

General Manager of Racing at Club Menangle David Wonson explained that the promotion of the Simpson Memorial as a qualifying event into the NSW Derby had been a massive success.

“Following on from this, these two feature three-year-old fillies’ events will bring opportunities never before offered to three-year-old fillies looking to make their way into the John Gibson Memorial NSW Oaks,” said Wonson.

“Once again should the winner of either of these two events wish to compete in the Oaks heats on April 27, they will forfeit the automatic clause and just run as a normal heat runner trying to qualify.

“Club Menangle appreciates the support and initiative of the Young Harness Racing Club to be a part of this exciting concept and I’m positive a quality line-up will participate at Young.”

For further details please telephone David Wonson 02-4645-2200 or go to the harness.org.au website for further race details.