Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott believe their Group One-winning filly Molly Bloom is in peak condition for one final flourish for their Matamata stable in Saturday’s Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm.
The daughter of Ace High has been an outstanding flagbearer this season for Wexford Stables, who bought her for $150,000 as a yearling at Karaka in 2022.
Molly Bloom has turned that into more than $500,000 with four wins from 10 appearances, including superb triumphs in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies' Classic (2000m). She clinched the title of New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year for the 2023-24 season.
Prominent Australian owner Ozzie Kheir bought a significant share in Molly Bloom in February, with the original owners remaining on board alongside him. After staying with O'Sullivan and Scott through to the end of her three-year-old preparation, Molly Bloom will join the all-conquering stable of champion expat Kiwi trainer Chris Waller.
But O'Sullivan is downplaying the poignancy of putting a saddle on Molly Bloom for the final time in Saturday's A$700,000 fillies' classic in Brisbane.
"I haven't given much thought to the fact that this is her last race for our stable," he said.
"I think the main thing is that it's been great to have had her. We'll continue to share in her journey going forward as well, with the original syndicate remaining in the ownership, so that will still be a very exciting part of it for us once she starts that next chapter."
Molly Bloom has not had all favours in her two appearances in Queensland so far, but O'Sullivan has been far from disappointed with her performances.
She kicked off with a second placing in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) on May 11. That race was run on an unsuitable Heavy10 track and was her first appearance since February, but she produced a strong late finish.
Molly Bloom was greeted with another tricky soft track for the Gr.2 Doomben Roses (2000m) on May 25, and endured a tough wide run, but she stuck on bravely for a close fifth.
"Both of her runs here have been very good, and without having much go her way in terms of track conditions and luck in the running," O'Sullivan said.
"She's gone the right way since the Roses. She looks very good this week and I can see no reason why she won't run well on Saturday.
"Stepping up to 2200m is something new for her, and you never know until you try. Whether she really wants to run that far, we're not sure yet. But often they'll do it while they're three, even if it's not a distance that turns out to be suitable for them later on in their careers. We're hoping she'll run it out okay on Saturday."
Molly Bloom will again be ridden by Blake Shinn and is rated a $5.50 second favourite by the TAB. The $3.50 favourite is another former Matamata filly – the last-start Roses winner Scarlet Oak, who began her career in the stable of Ken and Bev Kelso.
