Chequerboard Puts Herself in Oaks Picture

Following a superb Saturday where Coolmore Stud watched Golden Slipper hopeful Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) win the Gr2 Silver Slipper and Parure (Fastnet Rock) win the Gr3 Autumn Classic in their distinctive dark blue strip, the Hunter Valley-based property made it a black-type hattrick on Sunday when promising stayer Chequerboard (Fastnet Rock-Chi, by Zabeel) captured the Listed Tasmanian Oaks in Launceston. Trained by Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes, Chequerboard was the subject of a huge go in the ring, starting $1.60 after finishing runner-up to boom Tasmanian filly Hela (Night of Thunder) at her penultimate run. According to punters.com.au, the convincing 1.5-length victory – part of a long range plan by the stable – has the stable confident that the 3YO filly is a genuine mile-and-a-half prospect, one worthy of considering for the Gr1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick. Travelling stable foreman Garry Fennessy said, “Tom and Ben will look at the options, but she would be worthwhile taking to Sydney…”

Tasmanian Oaks (Listed)
2100 m, $150,000, for 3yo fillies
🇦🇺Launceston

Chequerboard(AUS)
(Fastnet Rock - Chi, by Zabeel)
J : B Mc Coull
T : T Dabernig and B Hayes
O : Coolmore (Mgr: T V Magnier), M J Kirwan, C Murphy & Dr D L O'Byrne pic.twitter.com/Wvys0JdxON

— WR1 (@WorldRacing1) February 21, 2021