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Assistant trainer Stuart Webb rates Victorian filly Red Typhoon as a value chance to repel the Kiwi invasion in the Queenland Oaks at Eagle Farm.
Assistant trainer Stuart Webb believes Victorian filly Red Typhoon is the knockout chance to repel the Kiwi invasion in the Group One Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm.
New Zealand fillies dominate the market for Saturday's 2400-metre feature with Quintessential and Miss Artistic the favoured runners.
Quintessential was the $4.80 favourite on Friday with Miss Artistic at $5.50 while Sydney filly Angel Of Mercy is the best of the Australian participants at $7.
Last-start winner Red Typhoon is a $17 chance but Webb believes her odds are inflated despite her lack of wet track form.
Eagle Farm was rated a slow (7) on Friday but could improve if a forecast for overnight showers fails to eventuate.
"She's at double-figure odds but she should be a lot shorter on her form," Webb said.
Webb has been assistant trainer for five years with Aquanita trainer Robert Smerdon, who is currently holidaying in France.
Red Typhoon booked a trip north for the Queensland Oaks following her impressive victory in the Group Three Fillies Classic (2500m) at Morphettville on May 12.
At her previous start, the daughter of Hold That Tiger finished an unlucky eighth in the Group One Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville won by the Clarry Conners-trained Invest.
"She got back on the fence in the Oaks in Adelaide and the pace slackened off at the wrong stage for her," Webb said.
"In staying races like this it's a big advantage if you know your filly can stay and she can.
"This is a better field than in her Adelaide win last start but she's a genuine stayer.
"After Saturday you'll be able to put a line through half of these fillies who will prove they can't stay."
Webb trains half a dozen horses in his own right and will be in charge of Red Typhoon, a Nash Rawiller mount, in Smerdon's absence.
Webb trained his first Group One winner in Queensland when Yosei won last year's Tatt's Tiara at Eagle Farm.
Trainer Chris Waller will be hoping the weather forecasters are proven correct to boost the hopes of Scorpio Queen, a last-start third to Invest in the Group Three The Roses at Doomben.
Waller will also be represented in the Queensland Oaks by Eliza Blue and Urban Rocker but Scorpio Queen is the stable's form runner and is proven in the wet with two wins from as many starts on heavy ground.
"If you'd asked me two months ago I would have said Urban Rocker was our best chance," Waller said.
"But we were only able to give her a short break after she won her maiden (in January) and maybe it's just been a bit too much for her.
"Scorpio Queen is our form runner and our best chance for the Oaks."
