Gai, Pinot the toast of $1mill VRC Oaks

Pinot has beaten Bring Me Roses and Hiyaam to win the $1 million VRC Oaks for Gai Waterhouse.

Gai Waterhouse has trained her first VRC Oaks winner as Pinot outstayed her rivals in the $1 million race at Flemington.

Ridden by Stephen Baster, Pinot ($5.50) led home a rough result in the three-year-old fillies Classic in beating Bring Me Roses ($31) by 1-1/3 quarter lengths.

Hiyaam ($21) was another 1-1/2 lengths away in third.

The race was delayed as Aloisia was reshod after losing a shoe on her way to the barrier and the odds-on favourite missed the placings.

Waterhouse trained Tuesday Joy to finish second in the 2006 Oaks but hadn’t had a runner since.

She shared her breakthrough moment with training partner Adrian Bott.

Pinot was expected to lead but after missing the start, Baster had to make a lot of use of the filly in the middle stages.

Baster timed his run to the second as Pinot got the upperhand over the final 100m.

“It is special, it really is,” Waterhouse said.

“She came to Melbourne a maiden. She came here with no accolades or anything … and not looked back since then.”

Aloisia was attempting to complete the Thousand Guineas-VRC Oaks double.

She was sent forward from the barrier to race outside the leader until settling fourth behind Pinot in the middle stages.

Jockey Luke Nolen tried to get Aloisia to rally but the $1.80 came to the end of her run at the 200m and she finished sixth.