The Oakleigh Plate is historically the most competitive sprint handicap in Australia and this year was no exception with the first 12 home covered by three lengths and the first dead-heat in the races 138 year history with Portland Sky the 35th three-year-old to triumph
Portland Sky was second to the home turn and broke clear on straightening with a wall of runners ready to challenge. Celebrity Queen came through along the inside of Portland Sky inside the final 200 metres to join the three-year-old on the line.
Portland Sky is the first Gr1 winner for Deep Field (Northern Meteor), also the sire of Gr2 winners Cosmic Force and Dig Deep out of Danehill-line mares as well as Listed winners Isotope and Fituese bred the same way.
Gr2 winner Deep Field was advertised at $55,000 at Newgate Stud in 2020.
Portland Sky is the only foal to race out of Sky Rumba (Shrewd Rhythm), a half-sister to Perth Listed winner London Line (Blackfriars). The granddam Line Of Flight (Bletchley Park) is an unraced half-sister to Gr1 winner Scenic Shot (Scenic) and the sixth dam Rosalba (Court Martial) won the 1959 Coronation Stakes.
Celebrity Queen is the 39th Gr.1 winner for Champion sire Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) who also has Gr.3 winners Dark Choice, Thyme For Roses, Very Tempting and The Elonora out of mares by More Than Ready (Southern Halo)
Bred and raced by Bob Peters, she is the only foal to race out of Celebrity Miss (More Than Ready), winner of the Listed Bolton Sprint in Perth and a half-sister to Gr2 Karrakatta Plate winner Confront (Bluebird).
Celebrity Miss is also a half-sister to Melbourne winner Best Picture (Scenic), the granddam of Perth Listed winner Stageman (Written Tycoon).
The granddam Miss Margaret (Marscay) won the Gr1 South Australian Oaks and the Gr1 Chrysler Stakes at Flemington.