Treasure (NZ) Impresses in Oaks Prelude

Lightly raced filly Treasure (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) stepped up to stakes level in style with an easy win in Saturday’s $55,000 Listed FastTrack Insurance Oaks Prelude (1800m) at Pukekura Raceway.

The Tony Pike-trained filly had yet to win from three appearances leading into the three-year-old fillies’ feature, but on all three occasions she had produced strong late finishes over shorter distances.

She stretched out to 1800 metres on Saturday and produced a sparkling performance, charging out of midfield to score by two and a half lengths.

“I think she’s one of the best staying fillies that I’ve trained,” said Pike, who also co-bred the filly. “We’ve always had a massive opinion of her, she’s just taken a few runs to work things out and the blinkers have helped her.”

Treasure cost $105,000 at the 2016 Select Sale and is raced by Ms V G McIntosh and I W Moses. She has now won one of her four starts and $35,812 in prizemoney.