Tearaway leader Horus (Demerit) turned the MCA Maiden (1800m) into a survival test at Ascot last Wednesday and Sail Session (Sessions) passed with flying colours for Oakland Park owner-breeders Neville and Susan Duncan.

Sail Session went out a $2.50 favourite and was giving the $201 longshot the best part of 10 lengths down the back straight before Chris Parnham got on the back of Brown Morn (A Lot) for a nice cart into the race to score with something in hand.

“He’s been a bit of a slow burn but Neville has been confident he could get out to a mile plus,” trainer Dan Morton reported.  “It was a solidly-run race and he had plenty left getting to the line.  He could develop into WA Derby horse and that means working backwards to fit in with the lead-up races.  He looks a stayer but that was only a maiden and we will take little steps from here.”

The G2 WATC Derby (2400m) is worth $400,000 this year and will be run on Saturday, 19 April.  That’s still a way aways but the Sessions 3yo would rank highly with Parnham while he tests several other classic candidates in the weeks ahead.  “He’s a raw talent and seems a nice stayer going forward.  He’s still learning the craft so winning today is a good sign.  It was a good pace early but then they stacked up and I was happy to take the opportunity to get moving in the three-wide line.”

Sail Session (3g Sessions – Unfurl by Raise The Flag) is third winner from a NZ-bred mare who hails from one of those stout South Island families.  Unfurl won up to 2400m in Victoria and was placed in a LR Port Adelaide Cup and LR Warrnambool Cup.  She is a half-sister to Inferno (G3 Canterbury Gold Cup) and Ortem Fire (LR Inglewood Stakes).

Oakland Park purchased Unfurl for $75,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.  She was carrying Street Boss (USA) filly Streeting who repaid the Duncans with interest when changing hands for $190,000 at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.  They retained her yearling filly by Maschino who has been named Flying In The Wind.

Sessions (Lonhro) was an out-and-out sprinter but he can get a stayer like Ihts Closing Inn who won the LR Belmont Oaks (2000m) and LR Belmont Classic (2200m) in the formidable Oakland Park silks last year.