Creatine sires the quinella in the Northern Trotting Oaks

The Tom Bagrie trained Walkinonsunshine was a dominant winner of the Group 3 Northern Trotting Oaks at Alexandra Park last night, powering through the rain to score by open lengths from fellow Creatine filly Virginia Clowers and the previously unbeaten High Energy.

In the hands of Tony Herlihy Walkinonsunshine found the lead easily off the gate and looked in control of the race throughout.

Kicking clear of the field in the backstraight the final time Walkinonsunshine had an unassailable lead rounding the home turn and trotted strongly to the line to win by six lengths.

Despite the inclement conditions, Walkinonsunshine’s time of 2:45 (a mile rate of 2:00.6 with the last 800m in 57.7) for the 2200m was a race record and only 0.8 of a second off Tailored Elegance’s national record for a 3-year-old trotting filly over the distance.

It was the daughter of Creatine’s second win to date, with her having also won as a 2-year-old last season and she showed plenty of potential back in December when a very unlucky fourth in the Group 1 Ace Of Hearts at Addington.

Bred by Bagrie’s parents Peter and Anne, and co-owner Reg Storer, Walkinonsunshine is out of the dual-gaited Falcon Seelster mare Blackjacky, who won once as a pacer before going on to win six races as a trotter.

Walkinonsunshine is now likely to stay on in the North and target the $100,000 Group 1 Northern Trotting Derby at the end of the month.