Coast Pacers On Track For Oaks

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday July 21, 2001

By DAVE MURRAY

Front row draws give South Coast pacers Chip And Gale and Like An Atom undeniable chances to win tonight's $50,000 Australian Oaks (2570m) at Moonee Valley in Melbourne.

The Darren Hancock-trained Chip And Gale has drawn behind gate five, with Chris Robinson's Like An Atom one sulky to her inside.

The pair clashed in the Bankstown Oaks a fortnight ago with Chip And Gale overcoming a back row draw to win after Like An Atom broke while leading in the home straight.

Hancock said yesterday he thought the draw gave his Tasmanian Oaks winner strong claims in the Group One feature.

``She's drawn a bit better than what she has been, so hopefully we can work forward there somewhere," he said.

``She's going to be up there. If she finds the front it will be a bit easier."

Hancock said the Caesar Blue Chip filly, owned by American plastic surgeon Dr Charles Scher, was standing up to tough racing and had done well since returning from Queensland to win at Bankstown.

``We haven't done much with her. She just keeps going good and while she's going good we'll just keep her going," he said.

``She might have a couple of weeks off after tomorrow and then we'll get her ready for the mares races at Harold Park, try to win a couple more at Harold Park and then she'll go to America."

Robinson, whose wife Karen recently gave birth to the couple's first son, Caleb, said a win in the Oaks would be another highlight for his family and consolation for Like An Atom's unlucky placing at Bankstown.

The former Kiwi looked to be holding Chip And Gale until she galloped in the final 100m.

``I thought she was going to win until Terry (driver Terry Robinson) hit her," he said.

``It's the last top three-year-old fillies race of the season and we might as well give her a chance."

New Zealand filly The Sparks A Flyin was rated a $2.80 pre-race favourite last night ahead of Chip And Gale at $4.50, while Like An Atom was over the odds at $16.