(256) Oakleigh Plate-G1

Caulfield. February 22. $352,000. Open Hcp. 1100m.

1. RIVER DOVE (S Baster 51.5) br m 4 Hurricane Sky - Ride the Rapids, by River Rough (NZ). Trainer: M J Ellerton.

2. North Boy (G Childs 55) b g 4 Rory's Jester - North Bell, by Bellwater (FR)

3. Choisir (G Boss 55.5) ch c 3 Danehill Dancer (IRE) - Great Selection, by Lunchtime (GB.

Long neck. Short head. 1m 4.58s. 14 strs.

RIVER DOVE (5-h)

Brown mare foaled 1998

Breeder: Contract Racing Pty Ltd, Vic.

Owners: Contract Racing Pty Ltd (Mgr: D J Moodie)

Click here for Tesio pedigree

Werk Nick Rating: A+

GP Inbreeding: Star Kingdom 5m x 5m, 5m. Bletchingly 3m x 3f.

Age	Starts	Wins	2nds	3rds
2	1	-	-	-
3	8	4	1	-
4	9	3	1	2
	18	7	2	2

Sire: HURRICANE SKY - Bay 1991. Group I winner; 6 wins, $893,170, AJC All-Aged S-G1, VATC Blue Diamond S-G1, VATC Autumn Classic-G2, 2d VRC Australian Guineas-G1, VATC C F Orr S-G1. Half-brother to UMATILLA, and to the dam of REDOUTE'S CHOICE. To stud 1996. Standing at Arrowfield Stud, Scone, NSW. Sire of 82 winners of $4.5 million, inc SWs RIVER DOVE, DESERT SKY, GRAND DELIGHT, SLIPSTREAM, CONTINUUM, CRYSTAL FINALE, SPs Hurricane Fighter, Miss Hurry Khan, Hurricane Warning, Flash Red, Kyperra, Magique Sky, also Jonny Ebeneezer, Eden Roc, Celestian, Key Rehearsal, El Rapido, Shockeroo, Dash for Cover, Storm Grass, Levante, etc.

Dam

RIDE THE RAPIDS (1988). 4 wins, $98,175, at 1000m, 1400m, AJC James H B Carr S-LR, VATC Sapphire H, Sovereign H, MVRC The Laurent Perrier-G2. Dam of 8 living foals, 6 raced, 5 winners -

93 Wings of Faith, br f by Raami (GB). Started once.

94 River Express, b f by Blazing Sword. 2 wins at 1600m, VRC Cleanevent 2YO H. Dam of -

Cross Current, b c by Keltrice. 1 win, $81,750, at 1000m, VRC 2YO Sprint H, 3d MRC Merson Cooper S-LR.

River Woman, blk f by Desert King (IRE). 1 wins, $117,450, at 1200m, MRC Wood Court Inn H.

95 River Crossing, br f by Bellotto (USA). 2 wins, $125,550, at 1000m, 1100m, VRC Eat Well Live Well H, VATC Ascot H, 2d VRC Kensington S-LR.

97 Rivers Secret, b f by Flying Spur. 1 win at 1000m.

98 RIVER DOVE. 7 wins, $471,450, at 1000m, 1100m, MRC Oakleigh P-G1, VRC Value Bet Sprint, Pura Light Start Sprint, MRC Avon H, Grace Darling H, VRC Bunnings H, 2d VRC Kensington S-LR.

99 Rivers Serenade, br f by Hurricane Sky. 1 win at 1000m.

00 (Unnamed) br c by Anabaa (USA).

02 (Unnamed) br c by Esperero (USA).

Her 1996 foal died; slipped in 2001.

2nd Dam

KILMARIE. 2 wins at 1200m, VRC Gallantic H-LR,VATC Herald &Weekly Times H. Dam of 4 foals, 3 raced, all winners -

CATCHFIRE. 2 wins, $131,000, at 1000m, VRC Maribyrnong P-G2, VATC Debutante S-G3. Dam of -

Lady of the Snows. 5 wins, $81,788, 900m-1200m, AJC Dorothea Mackellar H, Matador Bullbars H, STC Concierge Race Day H, VATC Macquarie H, 4th STC Research S-LR.

I LOVE SYDNEY. 4 wins, $106,150, at 1100m, 1200m, VRC Racing Club S-G3, Racing Pacing & Chasing H, RSL H, AJC Exchange H, 2d VRC Rupert Steele S-G3.

RIDE THE RAPIDS. See above.

Cailin Deas. 3 wins, 1200m-1600m, STC Enfield 2YO H. Producer.

3rd Dam

SHEEAUN (IRE). 1 win at 9f; placed Phoenix Park. Dam of 11 foals, 6 raced, all winners inc -

LAURIAT. 6 wins, 1350m-2000m, AJC Frank Packer P-G2, Silver Sharpe S-G3, Grand Fils H, Vaucluse H, STC Year of the Child H, 2d STC Phar Lap S-G2, 4th VATC Caulfield Guineas-G1.

KILMARIE. See above.

Zone Rullah. 1 win at 1200m; 3d STC Darby Munro Quality H-LR.

Shamrock Slipper. 5 wins, 1000m-1200m, AJC Settlers H, Veiled Threat H.

Other winners - Sheany Boy (9 wins), Ryla (producer).

Tipped To Top. Unraced. Dam of -

WINNING HAND. 13 wins, $245,170, 1000m-1200m, AJC Hall Mark S- LR, Show County Quality H-LR, STC Satellite S-LR, AJC Flying Welter H, Welter H, Bell Securities H, Lone Star Steakhouse H, Sadlier H.

Shamrock Time. Unraced. Dam of -

Satan's Halo. 10 wins, $164,735, 1200m-1400m, WATC Hollywood Park H, Monocoustic H, Harwood H, Sharks H, May King H, Seaview H, Rothschild H, Betsy Burke H, 2d WATC Goodwood Stprint-LR, Kalgoolie Hannans H-LR.

4th Dam

SLIPRULLAH. Won Phoenix Park Maiden H (10f). Half-sister to Ballyrullah (3d Coventry S, Railway S), Star Prince (2d Beresford S). From a sister to NOVARULLAH, Eccleston Street and Limelight (3d Belmont S), and half-sister to the dams of SCHERZO (Prix Daru), CARDINAL, and grandam of RENOVA (California Oaks). Her grandam was sister to GODIVA (English 1000 Guineas), and to the third dam of REFORM, and half-sister to WINDSOR SLIPPER. Dam of 6 foals, 4 raced, 3 winners inc-

Extension. 12 wins, 8f-11f, Curragh Lee S. Sire.

Beautrullah. Unraced. Dam of -

Kouros. 9 wins - 8 over jumps, Nottingham Novices' Steeple-LR.

PROBABLE favourite Rubitano was scratched from the Oakleigh because of the soft track. Deprave and National Saint shot out of the barrier, but it was Ocean Bridge who took up the running and led on the turn and held on gallantly for fourth.

The very smart mare River Dove, who has always shown ability, was handy all way and ran on strongly, relishing the soft track. She gave her sire his third Gr.I winner following Desert Sky's dual Orr-Futurity double in the Autumn of 2001, and Grand Delight's impressive victory in Hong Kong's Chinese Club Challenge Cup-Gr.1. Grand Delight raced in Australia as Desert Eagle and won the Emirates Stakes-Gr.1. River Dove is from Ride the Rapids, a stakes winning daughter of twice champion Australian sprinter, River Rough, and is inbred to champion sire Bletchingly with a third line of Australia's great on going sire influence Star Kingdom (IRE).

Bel Esprit came through on the rails and threatened briefly. Choisir well back early, came on brilliantly under top weight for third, but the run of the race was by Northerly's younger half-brother North Boy who was second last under hard riding on the turn and flew home for second.