A brilliant Kiwi filly who won the G1 Queensland Oaks, she was destined for bigger

Scarlett Lady was a Bay Mare foaled in 2007 from the imperial super sire Savabeel, by On Call ( by Ironclad).

Hailed by trainer Graham Rogerson as one of the best he trained, Scarlett Lady burst onto the racing scene on March 12th of 2011. Scarlett Lady – who was a $25,000 purchase at the 2009 Premier Yearling Sale, retired to stud with 8 wins from 16 outings and with NZ$821,126 in the coiffeurs. Scarlett Lady was owned by Max Whitby, a director of the Australian Turf Club. A six strong sequence of wins followed this successful 1400m Ellerslie outing, with black-type reward following in the Listed Breeders’ Stakes (2000m), the Gr.3 Travis Stakes (2000m), the Gr.3 Doomben Roses (2020m) and ultimately in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2400m).

The daughter of Savabeel came into the Oaks with five straight wins under her belt including a last start win in the Doomben Roses and she was able to maintain that form coming into the 3yo VRC feature. Ridden by star NZ apprentice James McDonald, Scarlett Lady settled toward the rear of the field and gave the leaders a dozen lengths start at stages through the event. At the 300m Scarlett Lady and McDonald had a conservative six lengths to make up on the leaders but once McDonald asked her to go she cut into the margin quickly, charging down the centre of the track. At the 200m Becerra (Dunn) held the lead along the fence, some three lengths clear of the field, except for Scarlett Lady who has sprouted wings out wide and was running her down. By the 100m Scarlett Lady had hit the lead and she kicked clear to score an emphatic victory. At the line the margin from Scarlett Lady to Becerra was two and a quarter lengths. Shez Sinsational (Bosson) was a length and a half away in third place. The overall time was 2.29.60 with the last 600m run in 37.40. Another Kiwi filly, Ethereal, was similarly impressive in winning the Queensland Oaks in 2001 before going on to win the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double in the spring. The victory was also the first Group One in Australia for boom New Zealand apprentice jockey, James McDonald.

The Stephen Luey and Westbury Stud bred-mare returned in dominant fashion, winning the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) before returning to Ellerslie to take out the Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) nearly a year to the day that she first showed up there. However a return trip to Australia would prove to be disastrous. After a poor showing in the Ranvet at Rosehill in March, her career would come to a sudden end in the Group 1 BMW on April 7 2012. The four-year-old Savabeel mare mare was eased down by jockey James McDonald and finished 40 lengths from the winner Manighar. Having pulled up sore from the Gr.1 BMW Stakes, trainer Graeme Rogerson and owner Max Whitby elected to call time on Scarlet Lady’s black-type racing career, with X-rays showing some arthritis issues. It was unrelated to the injury she suffered in the spring but not worth risking her health.

Scarlett Lady sold for $1 million as a broodmare has deliver six live foals since 2015. A filly from Redoute’s Choice, Fashionably, a colt by Snitzel, Party Everyday, a colt by Fastnet Rock, Irish Playboy, a filly by Snitzel, Tickle Me Scarlett, a colt by Snitzel, Enjolras and a filly by All Too Hard.

RACE RECORD - 16: 8-2-0

EARNINGS - $821,126

Gr.1 Queensland Oaks

Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes

Gr.2 Cambridge JC Travis Stakes

Gr.3 BRC Doomben Roses

Listed Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes