JUPITER’S PMC CREDENTIALS GET ANOTHER TEST AT ROSEHILL

OAKFIELD JUPITER FOLLOWING HIS RANDWICK WIN

WYONG trainer Damien Lane will get another guide on Oakfield Jupiter’s Provincial-Midway Championships credentials at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Successful first-up at Royal Randwick a fortnight ago, the lightly-raced mare will chase back to back city victories when she steps up to 1300m in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap.

Jason Collett rode the four-year-old in her impressive 1200m triumph in similar grade on October 25, taking her record to three wins from four starts.

He is riding in Melbourne, so Aaron Bullock goes back on Oakfield Jupiter, on whom he won her first two starts at Wyong and Gosford earlier in the year.

“Aaron rode at 58kg at Gosford today, and will ride the mare at her 57.5kg on Saturday,” Lane said this evening.

“She has done super since her first-up win.”

OAKFIELD SATURN WITH BULLOCK, MACKENZIE & LANE

Lane and Bullock joined forces at Gosford to land the Midway Class 1 Handicap (1200m) with $1.70 favorite Oakfield Saturn (both Oakfield horses are raced by Bruce Mackenzie).

But it was far from an easy watch as Bullock had to pull out all stops to get the hotpot home narrowly from Jamais ($8.50) and Call Me Sassy ($3.70).

“I was concerned beforehand that the 1200m at Gosford might be too short for Oakfield Saturn,” Lane said.

“She came back from 1250m first-up on the bigger track at Newcastle, and I ran her because I couldn’t find another suitable race.

“I won’t hesitate to step her up now to 1400m or 1600m.

“Oakfield Saturn has a lovely attitude, and that is going to take her a long way.

“She tries hard, and did a good job today given the distance was short of her best.”

Oakfield Saturn is putting together a tidy record. From six starts, she has won twice and been placed on the four other occasions.

A $520,000 purchase by Mackenzie at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale, the American Pharoah mare was placed at 1500m and 1600m (twice) earlier in the year at her first racing campaign.

Meanwhile, Oakfield Jupiter overcame an awkward alley in her Randwick victory on resumption, and again hasn’t drawn the best.

She drew 11 in a field of 16 and one reserve (following two withdrawals).

“Fortunately Oakfield Jupiter has the pace to put herself into a good position, but obviously I wish she had drawn better,” Lane said.

“Saturday’s race will give us another guide as to whether she merits setting for the Provincial-Midway Championships next autumn.

“We only have to worry about that if she wins as that will be her fourth success, so she would be getting close to the conditions to be eligible for the series.

“At any rate it will be up to Bruce to decide if we head toward the Championships with her.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, NOVEMBER 6, 2025 - MAIN PIC BRADLEY PHOTOS