Tackling The Big Boys Nothing New For Oranmore

SATURDAY morning's NSW Straight Track Championship Final (324) is all about raging hot favourite Shall Not.

The straight track megastar will be chasing a remarkable 15 consecutive wins up the Richmond straight in the $10,000-to-the-winner decider for Darren Sultana.

And while all the fanfare is with Shall Not ahead of Saturday's contest, nestled away in box one is grand campaigner Oranmore – the only female in the field – a scenario not foreign to the daughter of MDC hero Good Odds Harada.

"She's just amazing," declared her trainer Sam Simonetta.

"I reckon she could race every day if given the chance. Everything she does is 100 per cent and whatever we do she has to be first doing it.

"You can't even think of putting another dog on the walking machine before here at home. And she just loves going to the races. Drags you there."

That's reflected in Oranmore's amazing record.

From 51 starts she has scored on 11 occasions with a further 27 placings and in 24 runs at the Richmond straight has been in the money in 21 of those.

Adding further merit to the sensational resume is that she is generally overmatched and out-graded at the Richmond straight where her male counterparts boast a decided advantage.

"The other week when Shall Not was racing in Queensland for the State of Origin I thanked Darren for going because it gave me a chance to win one," Simonetta joked.

"It'd be great for her to have more opportunities up the straight against her sex as she is giving away plenty most weeks but it is what it is.

"I had a look the other day and she's missed a place just three times in her last 25 starts. Fronts up every start regardless of the circumstances."

On the line for first and second in Saturday's finale is a chance to represent NSW in the $48,000 National Straight Track Championship at Healesville on August 26.

FIELDS AND FORM RICHMOND SATURDAY

And while Simonetta is all but conceding the race to Shall Not, the Londonderry conditioner is confident his grand campaigner will run her usual honest race, fresh off her narrow victory on the Richmond circle track on Wednesday.

"Box one is ideal for her as she loves the rail," Simonetta said.

"Shall Not is a freak and he'd need to do a lot wrong to beat him. And it doesn't stop with him either – look at the rest of them. It's a sensational field.

"If we run second we are off to Melbourne and if not it means Shall Not won't be here in a few weeks time.

"It works out both ways!"

NSW Straight Track Championship (324m)

Richmond, Saturday, 11.09am

1. Oranmore
2. Oscar Moses
3. Monkey Paw
4. Weffalee Shield
5. Fernando Rocker
6. Aston Ulysses
7. Shall Not
8. Rocky Reef