Matt Laurie isn’t feeling any extra pressure as he attempts to add to his Group 1 tally with Grand Omaha in Saturday’s Queensland Oaks, despite his father-in-law being the emerging filly’s breeder and managing owner.
Retired trainer David Brideoake prepared the filly’s dam Grand Journey to win the G1 WA Derby and G3 WA Oaks, in between unplaced runs in the G1 VRC Oaks and the G1 ATC Oaks.
As a broodmare, she’s enjoyed mixed success and Grand Omaha, which is her eighth and final named foal, appears to be the best of her offspring.
Laurie, who is married to Brideoake’s daughter Kate, was given the filly to train when he stepped back from training in
While his mission to attain a Stakes-placing has been achieved, Laurie hopes he can orchestrate a much bigger payday for connections, many of whom have raced horses with Brideoake for decades.
“You want to do well for them (David and his connections), of course” Laurie said.
“But she’s already done it because, without winning, she’s obtained black type and she’s a filly of value.
“I don’t really have her pigeon holed as just a three-year-old because she’s got the physical frame to be able to go on with it.
“David trained the mother – I don’t remember too much about her but a lot of the ownership group have stuck with her.
“He (David) is retired (from training) and that has firmly taken place since the day it was announced, he’s happy to watch from afar.
“I’m pretty sure he told me when he handed this filly over to me that he thought she could make a nice horse.”
A nice horse she has made, particularly during the autumn, where she progressed from a first-up placing in a Class 1 handicap at Pakenham in March to a midweek win at the Caulfield Heath to, more recently, Stakes placings at Gosford and Doomben.
Grand Omaha is $15 with Bet 365, with Mark Zahra to ride from barrier 17 before the removal of emergencies.
Laurie admits his winning confidence was dented slightly by the draw, although he’s still expecting his filly to run a cheeky race.
“I was a little bit flat when the draw came out quite a few of the others in the market, other than Panova, haven’t drawn low either,” he said.
“But you don’t pull out of Group 1 races due to the barrier, do you.
“I’m happy with her.
“The purpose of this campaign was to obtain black type and we were fortunate enough to do that at Gosford in The Coast and then she obviously ran a really good race in The Roses.
“We’re in good nick for this final run of the campaign.
“I think she is in with a chance for sure, she hasn’t taken a backward step.”
