Oakland Park is off to a successful start to the season with Belmont winners Triple Jay, Lord Shiva, Vampi Queen and Fantaxtic and its homebred 3yo Back In The Fold is also bound for the big smoke after winning the WA Stockfeeds Maiden (1675m) at Bunbury on Thursday.

In a race where 10 of the 12 starters were mentioned in the stewards report, Chris Parnham gave Back In The Fold the run of the race behind keen front-runner Crazy Carrot (Snippetson) who, stewards were advised, was showing signs of being in season!

Back In The Fold (3g Gingerbread Man - Blackwood by Blackfriars) was bumped by Momotaro (Maurice) on straightening and he lay inwards over the final 100m but was still good enough to nail odds-on favourite Boutique Belle (Pierro) right on the line.

Oakland Park owners Neville and Susan Duncan bred him using Yarradale Stud sire Gingerbread Man over Blackwood who was unbeaten in her first four starts as a 2yo at Ascot and Belmont.

Trainer Fred Kersley brought her back as a spring 3yo to claim a valuable black-type victory in the LR Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m).  She retired with earnings over $475,000 and Back In The Fold follows her earlier War Chant (USA) winners Blowin' Smoke and Oakwood.

Blackwood’s 2yo colt Shoot For The Sun (Shooting To Win) has also been retained and her latest cover was to A Lot (USA) on a late October coupling.

The Gingerbread Man – Blackfriars cross has a 75% winning strike-rate headed by Herault who went for a spell after being placed in the LR Belmont Guineas (1600m) in June. Gingerbread Man (Shamardal) can continue his winning run at Belmont this Saturday with Bosun ($2.60 favourite) and I Love Ya Money ($2.90) dominating the market for the Westspeed Platinum Hcp (1400m).

  Back In The Fold levels out to defeat Peters Investments mare Boutique Belle at Bunbury
Photo: Western Racepix