In Brief
- Well bred filly caps campaign with Oaks win.
- Newborn prevents owner from witnessing Oaks win.
- Butler says A Spanish Dance has a bright future.
Smart three-year-old filly A Spanish Dance celebrated her biggest win when she powered her way to an emphatic win in the Tasmanian Equine Veterinary Services Tasmanian Oaks over 2579 metres in Hobart on Saturday night.
With Gareth Rattray aboard, the Marc Butler-trained filly trailed the leader Missin Rock for the first 1200 metres before easing out to face the breeze and when Rattray called on his charge to extend, she rolled to the front and went on to score by over 13 metres.
A Spanish Rock (A Rocknroll Dance-Guernica) was bred by Brian Stanley who raced her as a two-year-old but after her only start this season she was sold to Leigh Barker and a group of his friends for $8,000.
Since joining Butler’s stable the filly has notched four wins from five starts for just over $30,000 in stakes with her latest two wins the 3YO Fillies Championship and the Oaks.
Barker needed to be at the Launceston General Hospital where his partner Nicole Shepherd was giving birth to their son Ned about five hours before their filly saluted in the Oaks.
Barker witnessed the birth of his son and after ensuring his partner Nicole was comfortable, he made a beeline for Elwick to watch his filly win the Oaks and made it by the skin of his teeth.
“I really like this filly because she doesn’t do a lot wrong and she is learning quickl,”Butler said.
“I stepped up her workload and changed her shoeing and it’s made a difference.
“She’s earned a spell and hopefully she can improve and go to the next level next time in.”
Watch A Spanish Dance easily win the Tasmanian Equine Veterinary Services Tasmanian Oaks.