Miss Hepburn Leading Lady in WA Country Oaks

Miss Hepburn and connections after the WA Country Oaks. Photo by Photography by Jodie Hallows.

Saturday night at Bunbury was a first for breeder and owner Kim Tuckey, with a breeding treble on the card, but the night was highlighted when Miss Hepburn claimed the feature of the night, the $30,000 WASBA 2YO Westbred Fillies WA Country Oaks.

Trained and driven by Aiden De Campo, the well performed three-year-old took her stakes to in excess of $100,000 with Saturday nights feature win, bringing up her fourth career victory from just 16 starts, with the 3YO Westbred Fillies Classic in her sights.

“The Westbred heats will be the main aim next,

“The ultimate aim is the Oaks.” Breeder Kim Tuckey said.

Owned solely by family and their friends, Miss Hepburn has shown plenty of promise throughout all her campaigns, with her maiden win at just start two in an open 2YO fillies race at Gloucester Park in June 2023, and just three starts later, runner-up in the 2YO Diamond Classic behind Water Lou.

Running third in last years Westbred Classic behind Xceptional Arma, her last start as a two-year-old, Tuckey opted to get a full body scan on her to pin-point any issues she may have had, with the results coming back with the usual strains of youngsters ailing her, the decision was made to send her to the paddock, with the growing two-year-old not making her return to racing until March this year.

Miss Hepburn was runner-up again this year, this time in the 2YO Diamond Classic, in a case of dejavu, behind impressive three-year-old filly Water Lou.

By Ultimate Machete NZ and out of his mare Montanas Smile, it was a case of two for the price of one when he put his two mares at the time into foal, and although both have made it to the track, Miss Hepburn has well and truly claimed the favourite status amongst the two with breeder Kim Tuckey.

The last of six foals out of Montanas Smile, who had the 16 starts, but didn’t get that elusive first win, Patrician Park had the mare for her first three foals, with Tuckey making mention that the Coffey family had an opinion of the first foal Smile Underfire, who was sadly ill-fated after just two starts.

The second foal, Bolta, had 107 starts for 11 wins and won just under $100,000 in stakes.

Breeding anywhere between two and four foals each year, Tuckey did admit that he had lost a bit of interest in the last 12 months, but Miss Hepburn could be the one to change that.

“This one will probably rekindle the flame.”

Kim Tuckey is a part-owner of WA speedster Pinny Tiger who recommenced his preparation around six weeks ago, having his first track work run last Wednesday, with all reports positive in his lead up to the WA Pacing Cup later in the year.

“He will have two runs before the Pacing Cup.”

Hopeful that Pinny Tiger may head east next year to tackle some of the Grand Circuit races, it’s a dream to have a horse with as much ability as Pinny Tiger, and Tuckey is realistic that this is almost certainly going to be the best horse he will have in his lifetime.

“We’re going to play it by ear and see what happens, but I believe the horse deserves to have the chance.”

Kim is invested in 15-20 horses currently, with three youngsters in Sydney, and a further three in New Zealand, the future looks bright for the hobbyist.

Ashleigh Paikos