The Chris Waller team has some thinking to do after the imposing victory of De Armas in the traditional VRC Oaks lead-up at Flemington.
Prior to the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on Saturday, Waller was suggesting Your Colour and Tharwa were likely to be his representatives in the Group 1 Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on Thursday.
But the stable may need to rethink that strategy with Tharwa back in ninth spot and Your Colour finishing 11th.
Waller only had his first Oaks runner last year with The Pearls finishing second.
De Armas, sent out the $3.60 equal favourite under Blake Shinn, appreciated the solid tempo in registering a 1-¼ length win from Girl With A Pearl ($61) with the other $3.60 favourite Icelady holding on for third, a further 1-½ lengths away, after setting the speed.
De Armas runs straight past them in the Wakeful Stakes!
@cwallerracing @blake_shinn @FlemingtonVRC @OTIRacing https://t.co/ohGpCeNNQe
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 31, 2026
With Waller in Sydney for the Golden Eagle meeting, stable representative Darren Beadman praised the ride of Shinn.
“That was a 12 out of 10 ride,” Beadman said.
“We were quite fortunate that they did roll along in the race, running good sectionals, which probably allowed him to be a little bit further back and just to rest her.
“She chimed into the race probably a little bit too well and got to the front probably a little bit too quick, but we won’t knock that one back.”
Beadman said De Armas was an improving filly, but her manners on race day need improving.
“She still did a few things wrong,” Beadman said.
“She laid out, she didn’t really get around Caulfield the other day, but the big track here obviously suits her.
“She’s obviously entered for the Oaks on Thursday, so Chris and the team will see how she pulls up, but OTI have got a very handy filly on their hands.”
For Shinn it was his third win in the Wakeful Stakes having guided Thunder Lady (2011) and Luvaluva (2017) to victory for John Sargent.
Shinn said De Armas was not an easy ride as she was unbalanced around the home turn.
“She really was quite unbalanced getting around the turn,” Shinn said.
“I was really trying to coax her to get onto her right leg, her offside leg, just to balance out.
“It took me a little bit to get her to change, but she won authoritatively and ran the distance out nicely.
“It’s my third Wakeful, it’s a great lead up to the Oaks and you never know what Chris will do now with her.”
