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This afternoon’s Group One Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm over 2400m presents the last opportunity for the three-year-old fillies to notch a classic victory.
Photo by Racing and Sports
A relatively new race on the Australian racing calendar, the Queensland Oaks was first run in 1951 when Maltmaid was successful. However since that time some of the country’s classiest fillies have added their names to the honour roll including Denise’s Joy (1976), Surround (19777), Triscay (1991), Arctic Scent (1996) and more recently Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner Ethereal in 2001.
Today’s renewal boasts a capacity field headed by proven group one performer and VRC Oaks winner Dear Demi pitted against several late bloomers to the staying ranks.
One such galloper is the Pat Carey trained Gondokoro who appears to be reaching top form at the right time of her campaign.
The Zabeel filly has continued to improve this preparation, recent form including a fourth to Norzita in the G1 Vinery Stakes at Rosehill and a distant third behind Royal Descent in heavy ground in the G1 ATC oaks at Randwick.
Back onto more suitable firmer footing last time out at Doomben in the Doomben Roses over 2000m, Gondokoro caught the eye with a fast finishing second behind her main rival today Dear Demi, going under by a head, unsuccessfully protesting against the winner.
There is no doubt with clearer running Gondokoro would have easily accounted for Dear Demi, the filly being severely hampered at the start and losing valuable ground at the 1600m.
Her trainer Pat Carey is no stranger to winning big staying races, the Mornington conditioner already has trophies for the VRC Oaks, ATC Derby and BMW on his mantlepiece so he knows what it takes to win at this level and punters can be assured Gondokoro will be right on her game for today.
Another significant advantage for the filly is the spacious Eagle Farm course. The long run in will afford race rider Rhys McLeod ample opportunity to produce the filly at the right time.
VRC Oaks Dear Demi is clearly the danger but her rating profile indicates she is not racing at her top right now. In fact at her last five runs she has rated 14 pounds below her Oaks winning 118 Timeform rating and it is hard to see her turning that around today.
All the same even at her current level she rates as the hardest to beat and will have blinkers re fitted today.
Dear Demi will be having her eighth run this campaign her best Timeform rating coming second up winning the G2 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm.
As I have already discussed two starts back she was lucky to hold out Gondokoro in the Doomben Roses over 2000m but at the same time Dear Demi was forced to cover additional ground in the race which added merit to the win.
Then last start she tackled the “boys” in the G3 Grand Prix Stakes over 2200m at Doomben finishing sixth over four lengths from the winner Hawkespur. Again she ran on from well back in the field but found it hard o pull ground off stronger rivals.
The step back to her own sex here is a definite plus and a repeat of her recent Timeform ratings is certainly sufficient to put her in the frame.
Leading Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse who has won the Queensland Oaks with Zacheline in 1998 will start two rapidly improving filles Vaquera and Porcellanus.
Both are chances however ratings suggest Vaquera (98) is the slightly better winning prospect, that filly proving she was up to the Oaks class with a close third behind Dear Demi and Gondokoro in the Doomben Rose over 2000m.
On that occasion she sat handy from a low draw and after getting to the lead at the 200m was just run down by the aforementioned pair.
That run was her first at 2000m and being by High Chaparral she looks certain to take further improvement out of the race.
Champion Melbourne trainer Peter Moody who has won two Queensland Oaks, Riva San (2008) and Vouvray (2004) will saddle up the lightly raced Miss Zenella.
The Zabeel filly is one of the most inexperienced runners in the field but there is no doubting her potential winning two of her five runs to date.
Miss Zenella showed staying ability at her third race start winning her maiden over 2040m at Moonee Valley before heading off for a spell. After a narrow defeat when resuming over 1400m she then stepped up to 1700m at Sale in restricted class last time out recording an impressive victory.
Admittedly she has to take another big step here, but on potential she is capable of doing just that.
Enjoy the Queensland Oaks.