Tick Tick Bloom is coming to the end of her winter campaign but was still good enough to win the LR Belmont Oaks (2000m) on Saturday.

The talented Viscount filly dug deep to defeat Star Of Husson by a head in a performance that perplexed trainer Adam Durrant.  “I thought she would have won that a lot easier…she could be training off.”

Tick Tick Bloom (3f Viscount – Eight Roses by Bellotto) won her maiden at Pinjarra in April and went into the Oaks on the back of a Listed victory in the Belmont Guineas (1600m).  Durrant will weigh up whether it’s worthwhile keeping her in work for the LR Belmont Classic (2200m) on July 19.

“We’ve always had a very high opinion of this filly,” he said. “I think she’s good enough to be set for the Ascot summer carnival.”

Tick Tick Bloom is a homebred for Dan Palmateer and a group of work-mates based at the Cosmos Nickel Mine north of Leinster.  Her dam Eight Roses was raced by Andy Phelan but retired a maiden after 9 starts.

Eight Roses is a half-sister to Phelan’s Perth Cup winner Ros Reef (1995).  Phelan also won the 1985 Perth Cup with Ullyatt and was gunning for a third last year with Chester Road before the Durrant trained stayer went amiss.

Tick Tick Bloom has a rising 2yo half-sister by Danehill Express.

The Belmont Oaks result is the latest feature win for Neville Duncan’s Oakland Park.  His homebred G1 Kingston Town Stakes winner Ihtsahymn (Ihtiram) has been the stud’s flag-bearer this season while Petrol Power (Snitzel) weighed in with a Listed victory in the Placid Ark Stakes.

And Oakland Park bred Ascot winner Molto Allegro (Fast ‘n’ Famous) will play a part in the three year-old filly features next season.

Oakland Park stands Viscount for a $7,700 (inc gst) service fee.