Oaks winner heads a star studded line up for Crown heats

20 July 2012 - Group 1 Australian Oaks winner Shake It Mama heads a star-studded line-up of fillies at Bendigo to contest three heats of the Art Major Breeders Crown Series 14 at Lord’s Raceway on Wednesday night.
Champion reinsman Chris Alford, Smythes Creek trainer Emma Stewart and owner David Sheppard celebrated Shake It Mama’s dominant win in last Friday’s $75,000 Oaks at Tabcorp Park, Melton. Leading all the way, Shake It Mama was simply too good for her rivals and won by 5.9 metres. The mile rate was a good 1:58.1, with a last half in a slick 56.2.
This was Mach Three filly Shake It Mama's second Group One win of her career after capturing the Bathurst Gold Tiara at two. She has now had seven wins from 13 starts this season and the Nevele R Stud Australian Oaks elevated her career earnings to over $213,000. The first six placegetters from the Oaks will contest the Crown heats at Bendigo. Louvre an outstanding daughter of Art Major trained by Susan Hunter finished second in the Oaks and will contest a separate Crown heat to Shake It Mama on Wednesday. Shake It Mama’s stablemate Beauty Secret, a filly by Armbro Operative finished fourth in the Oaks and won the Southern Cross Final in South Australia before that and has also drawn away from Skae It Mama. She will contest the third Crown heat. Chris Alford took Shake It Mama straight to the top in the Oaks and she is drawn to lead in her heat as well. From gate two she should have enough pace to cross the speedy pole marker La Machane, a last start Ballarat winner to be driven by Greg Sugars. Louvre, the winner of the Group 1 Alabar Breeders in NSW, will get plenty of opposition from the Oaks third placegetter Ymbro Toto and Vicbred Filly Final winner Hexham Heartbeat. Beauty Secret will come from the inside of the second row in her heat. The Bendigo-owned Real Bonus and New Zealander Twist And Twirl will make strong claims for victory. The $20,000 Blue Chip Farms Australasian Breeders Crown Semi Final will be raced at Tabcorp Park 10 August, the $20,000 Consolation on 19 August with the $176,000 Final on 19 August. – David Aldred