Oaks hope Miss Selby bred to handle wet

Wednesday 16 April 2014, 3:08pm

The notion that New Zealand form equals wet form is untrue for most of the Kiwi visitors to Sydney this autumn, including Oaks aspirant Miss Selby.

Much of New Zealand's North Island is in drought, receiving no significant rain since last spring.

Miss Selby's trainer John Bary is confident in her ability to run out a strong 2400 metres and is relying on the filly's breeding to get her through the heavy Randwick track on Saturday.

On thing Bary does know, is the Trentham track was too firm for her when she ran second to Miss Mossman in last month's New Zealand Oaks.

"She is by O'Reilly and I think she will cop a wet track with no problems," Bary said.

"The track was too hard in the New Zealand Oaks. Her aim has always been the Australian Oaks.

"She is only a light-framed filly but she has never been out of the top three in her career."

The winner of two of her seven starts, Miss Selby beat Miss Mossman in a Group Three 2100-metre race before the John Sargent-trained filly reversed the result in the Oaks.

Former New Zealander Lucia Valentina is the Oaks favourite following her win in the Group One Vinery Stud Stakes at her third start for Kris Lees.

Miss Selby has not raced against Lucia Valentina or Oaks third pick Rising Romance in New Zealand but got up close and personal with the leading local contender Zanbagh on Wednesday morning.

"She worked with Zanbagh this morning and I was very happy with her," Bary said.

"She handled the conditions and it was a nice hit-out.'

The Guy Walter-trained Zanbagh is the Oaks second favourite and had no problems with the distance when a close second to Kirramosa in the VRC Oaks (2500m) in the spring.

In the lead-up to that Classic, Zanbagh scored a five-length win over older mares on a heavy Ballarat track.

She finished just behind the fourth-placed Rising Romance in the Vinery after getting back from the outside barrier in the 16-horse field.

Glen Boss rode Zanbagh to her maiden win but will be aboard Miss Selby on Saturday and her stablemate Recite who contests the Queen Of The Turf Stakes.

– AAP

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