The G1 NZ Oaks (2400m) for 3yo fillies only was once the strongest form guide race for the next season at least in New Zealand racing, which is unashamedly designed to be dominated by female gallopers. That waned for several years when the NZ Derby was moved from a Boxing Day date to an early Autumn date as the best filly went there and then Sydney afterwards. It is swinging back now to be a key race again but needs to keep proving it with results as the best filly will likely not contest it anymore due to the Derby suiting a Sydney path for more yards than not these days. The third finisher in the Derby this year was the Australian bred filly Danzdanzdance and she is now in Sydney ready to show her wares. The next tier of filly that raced today while certainly tidy as a group and having scope galore, not one of these could have placed in the NZ Derby that was run in faster time overall. The winner today Savvy Coup started a clear cut favourite, as her formlines were the best left in the field and it was purely down to her running out the 2400m and that proved not an issue. She ended up seventh the outer in a good spot but does race fierce and keen though it does not seem to affect her and the only thing it does is the arm sockets of regular rider Chris Johnson. He could not hold her any longer at the 800m and went up fifth wide jogging then challenged four-off turning for home and led at the 300m. She drew clear and won by a comfortable length and a quarter (it could have been more) and clocked 2:29.03, which is about an average time for the Oaks these days. Savvy Coup was winning her fifth race from twelve starts and she only cleared maidens on November 11 so has come a long way over Summer and now into the Autumn. The filly is one of the very few consistent 3yo runners this season of either sex as the form has proven unreliable most of the time and many runners have never been able to stand up for very long. Her breeding on the dam sire does not inspire stamina confidence so maybe she is the right filly at the right time and moment. The clash between her and Danzdanzdance will be defining as Savvy Coup beat her home in the Listed Karaka Mile but at 2400m that can be reversed for sure. Danzdanzdance ran against a superior field in the Derby and the Australian bred filly is the benchmark in New Zealand at the moment of her sex. Chris Johnson won the Oaks 20 years ago on Tycoon Lil and she ran very well in Sydney afterwards and today was his first win in this race since amazingly. He is the best rider of stayers New Zealand has seen in the modern era at least and the last South Island trained filly to win this race was Tartan Tights in 1995 for Ted Winsloe and the rider was Chris Johnson. He won this race in 1990 on Domino and now has five of them with Sawatdee (1997) the other name to make up his quintet. Contessa Vanessa ran a game second and her durability is impressive as she has handled a heap of racing so well. Today was her tenth run since October and she is still trying hard with today sitting fourth the outer and then moving up third wide across the top before challenging turning for home three-off. She tried to go with the winner at the 300m but could not though did fight all the way to the line. Milseain fought well for third after reasonable run fifth or sixth the outer while Caricature did some work early to get up second the outer and fought on well the run home to finish fourth. Mark Two is one of the best maidens in the country and she cemented that today with a sound fifth after settling down ninth surrounded. She had not raced for five weeks prior to today so could be special looked after properly and not deep ended all the time. Marcellina ran on late from well back and she too is a maiden filly with it all ahead. Belle Du Nord battled the run home after a nice run fifth or sixth the inner while Terra Sancta was running on okay from second last turning for home. Gold Spice was not too bad as she lost her place across the top and another maiden Le Sablier plugged away the inner. Misstumut as rank outsider and a maiden plugged past four others from last on settling. Lincoln Melody was outclassed while Hasahalo was wide for large portions of the race but cannot stay as she tried to track the winner into the race before the home turn but could not go on. Hasahalo blew away her age and sex at G1 over a mile last November but cannot stay and trying to go forward wide early today was a tactical blunder as she ended up back and wide anyway. Swing Note worked hard to lead and stopped badly while the other South Island trained runner Hot Fuss ran last after working early then trailing the leaders. Savvy Coup was superior to these and will now go to Sydney for the ATC Oaks, which is for once looking like a very strong line up where getting a start is a battle for some. The rematch between Savvy Coup and Danzdanzdance is part of what could be a compelling Autumn for 3yo fillies in Sydney. Ample numbers in this field have scope to win many more races next season and a few maidens in this are quality in the making with Mark Two potentially special. Interestingly the first, second, fourth and fifth finishers in the 2018 Oaks drew the four outside stalls.