Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards will take two fillies south to contest Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham and he believes they are both winning chances.

Shezathinka and Savy Yong Blonk will represent the stable and both fillies head into the race in good form, with Shezathinka finishing runner-up last start in the Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings, while Savy Yong Blonk ran on for third in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m) earlier this month.

“They are two really nice fillies that ran second and third in the lead-up races,” Richards said.

“Shezathinka is still a maiden, but she is an exciting filly. I’m disappointed she hasn’t won a race before now, but we wanted to give her a crack at the Lowland and to split Queen Of Diamonds and Imelda Mary was a really good effort.

“She will go into the race in good order, a mile and a-half is no problem.

“Savy Yong Blonk is a really exciting Savabeel filly. She was really unlucky at Ellerslie, she got taken out at the corner when she was making her run and to balance up and pick herself up to finish third was a really good effort.”

Chris Johnson will travel north to ride Shezathinka, while Michael McNab will be aboard Savy Yong Blonk.