Queensland Cup Next Stop For WA Oaks Winner

SATURDAY night's Group 2 WA Oaks winner Rippin' Grace will head to Albion Park to prepare for the upcoming Group 1 Queensland Cup series.

Rippin' Grace (Bernardo-Slingshot Spirit) scored in the Oaks by a length and a half over Shayne Williams kennelmate Bell Mac Blazer with West On Blossom in third.

She ran the Cannington 520m in 29.89.

It took her record to 32 starts for 10 wins and 16 placings and $116,000.

She is due to trial at Albion Park next Thursday night with her ultimate aim the Group 1 Queensland Cup (710m) worth $175,000 to the winner.

The Cup heats will be run on June 29 and final on July 7.

Congratulations to RIPPIN' GRACE for trainer Shayne Williams on winning this year's WA Oaks Final. Rippin' Grace trailed the field down the straight but positioned herself perfectly on the rail by the 600m to pick off the placings and comfortably take the lead for a 29.89 victory pic.twitter.com/9q2oQdwH6V

— Greyhounds WA (@greyhounds_wa) May 27, 2023

The bitch has already proven herself a fine stayer finishing second in the G3 The Miata and making the final of the G1 WA Galaxy.

But, the Oaks victory was dimmed by the fact owner Cheryl Smith's mother-in-law Gloria died suddenly on Sunday morning.

“It was very sad that should happen the next day,” she said.

Cheryl paid $15,000 for Magic Wave (Black Magic Opal-Zipping Sassy) as a pup and needed another pup to rear with him.

“Jay Ferguson had three Bernardo-Slingshot Spirit bitches he wanted to sell for $2000 each, so I told him to send me the blue one,” said Cheryl.

“That bitch is Rippin' Grace.”

Cheryl and husband Wayne have been long-time friends with Shayne Williams in WA and have always promised to send him a dog to train.

“She broke in good and we told Shayne she had ability,” said Cheryl.

“Rippin' Grace is her.”

Williams will fly to Queensland on Tuesday with the bitch to stay with Tom Tzouvelis and Jedda Cutlack at the kennels and is expecting to be there for the lead-up to the Queensland Cup.

“It's a huge thrill for us to win the Oaks,” said Cheryl.

“She is only young and has already won a Group two and been in two other Group finals.

“And what a broodbitch prospect she will be.”