Filly Makes Premiership Charge Personal

It could hardly have been scripted any better. With Hungry Heart (Frankel) deservedly in the paddock after recording Group 1 wins in the Vinery Stud Stakes and Australian Oaks that completed a hattrick – she also won the Gr2 Phar Lap Stakes – it seemed likely that the Yulong filly would likely finish the season with the 3YO Black Type Premiership in the bag. That changed when last spring’s Gr1 VRC Oaks winner Personal (Fastnet Rock) was paid up for Saturday’s Gr1 Australasian Oaks in Adelaide. A drifter at $16 after an awful barrier draw earlier in the week, Personal needed victory to overhaul Hungry Heart’s 63 points. Unleashed from the rear of the field by Damian Oliver, the Coolmore Stud-raced filly flew home to finish a hard closing second. The upshot was 11 precious points that drew Personal level with Hungry Heart. If there’s a wild card that could come into play, it’s that Personal still holds a nomination for Saturday’s Gr1 South Australian Derby where any placing (13, 11 or 10 points) would put her well clear.