A Thrilling Start to the PGR Oaks
The opening heat of the PGR Oaks delivered everything fans anticipated, featuring a thrilling duel between two top contenders: Druids Say Go and Avongate Venus, both fresh off major Category One victories.
Patrick Janssens' star, Say Go (5/6f), once again showcased her exceptional early speed, while Venus (11/8) trailed closely behind. At the sectional, Say Go was seven spots ahead, and she maintained her lead to finish eight spots in front, clocking an impressive 27.89 seconds. This run was the fastest seen at the track since former kennelmate Coolavanny Shado set the record of 27.77 seconds.
Janssens is hopeful that Say Go can secure a second Oaks win for his kennel in just three years, following Slick Sakina's 2022 victory. However, the night was dampened by an unfortunate injury to Fabulous Terra.
Reflecting on the injury, Janssens admitted he feared the worst, stating that she might be finished after suffering a gracilis muscle injury. He shared with Dave Firmager that he had believed she had real potential, feeling confident she could have posted a time between 28.00 and 28.10 on the night.
As for Druids Say Go, Janssens spoke highly of her, comparing her to his former champions Slick Sakina and Shado. While she started out strong at Romford, even reaching the Golden Sprint Final, Janssens always believed she could handle the 480 metres. He explained to the owners that Towcester wouldn’t be in her future, as she wasn’t suited for the longer 500 metres like Fabulous Azurra. Instead, they focused on key races such as the Pall Mall, East Anglian Derby, and the Oaks, with Janssens confidently stating he wouldn't trade her for any other competitor.
Leighas Dream also made headlines, delivering a powerful performance, beating last year’s runner-up Jet Stream Angel by eight lengths in 28.02 seconds.
Despite Fabulous Terra's injury, the night’s biggest surprise came with the disqualification of Delicate Lass, a local favourite trained by John Lambe, during heat three.
Additionally, the KSS Syndicate enjoyed a successful evening with both Queen Joni and Queen Dusty claiming victory in heats five and eight, respectively.
Trainer Rab McNair expressed his satisfaction with both wins, noting that Joni’s race marked her first over four bends since the Derby Plate ten weeks ago. Though she had sprinted recently, McNair acknowledged there was still room for improvement. Dusty, on the other hand, ran a spectacular race, particularly as it was her first since July. McNair also commented on Shakira’s unfortunate turn of events, as she was bumped sideways at the bend but seemed to have come out unscathed.