Blue Skies For Mystic Riot's Oaks Tilt

MILLION Dollar Chase winner Mystic Riot will look to follow in the footsteps of her litter-sister Blue Sky Riot, winner of the event in 2018, when she steps out as the fastest qualifier for Friday night's $40,000 to-the-winner Group 2 Richmond Oaks Final (535m).

Heading to the races for the first time in almost eight weeks, Mystic Riot took out the final Oaks qualifier on Friday for Jodie and Peter Lagogiane in a blistering 30.40, the second Oaks heat winner for the Llandilo duo, following Set To Storm's 30.54 victory earlier in the night, her first outing since November.

Ironically, both bitches carved out their first splits in an identical 5.21.

"I was very proud of both of them – they went into their heats without any recent racing and whilst I knew they were going good you still want to see them come out and do it under race conditions," said Peter Lagogiane on Monday.

"Friday night was Mystic Riot's first 500 since the Paws Of Thunder in January, I must admit I was a bit nervous walking to the boxes because there were no excuses for her not to perform, I couldn't have been happier with how she went and she will only be better for the run."

Drawn box seven for the $40,000 to-the-winner finale, the same draw she had when annexing October's Million Dollar Chase Final at Wentworth Park, this week is the daughter of Barcia Bale's eighth consecutive start drawn box six or wider.

"Someone actually said to me on Friday we may as well paint the black rug on her she gets it that often – it's becoming a bit that way!" joked Lagogiane.

"I'm really happy where we have her now and she's feeling enormous – it's an open race with some very good bitches. I think the one (Cosmic Blend) and the eight (Zipping Bailey) are the two to beat, but we'll just concentrate on our two and see what plays out, in these big races so much can happen."

While Lagogiane has Mystic Riot perched as his leading Oaks contender, the Llandilo conditioner has a soft spot for the second of his runners, Set To Storm, injuries thwarting what could have been a stellar career for the daughter of Barcia Bale and Set To Shine.

"It's a shame we'll never get to see the absolute best of her – she could have been anything if not for snapping her tendon and the problems that have come after," declared Lagogiane on Monday.

"We need to be pretty soft on her now, going into Friday night the only work she'd had was a 300,400 and a post-to-post – the problem now is getting her to back-up from her races, even after the weekend she's pulled up with a few little issues we need to iron out.

"The main thing is that they begin cleanly and don't bring each other undone being drawn alongside each other.

“I'm leaning to Mystic Riot ahead of Set To Storm – if not for all of Set To Storm's problems I'd say she could have definitely beaten the other bitch. You only need to look at the times she was running early on, they were freakish what she was doing."

Lagogiane has also warned punters not to undersell the chances of Uno Fabio in the Group 2 Richmond Derby Final (535m), currently presiding over the son of My Bro Fabio for trainer Anthony Azzopardi.

"Box five doesn't help but his run the other night was huge – his run home was outstanding," said Lagogiane.

"It's an open race and I think what North does early looks to hold the key. If he begins and gets wide it could throw the race wide open. If Uno Fabio gets a decent crack at them he'll be in the finish.

"I'm told he's the only dog to ever run down Poke The Bear. Not a bad thing to have said about you!"

Blue Sky Riot's 2018 Richmond Oaks victory