A training mishap during the week that saw Arabian Gold pull a shoe at trackwork with, according to trainer David Vandyke, “a couple of nails in a comprising position”, hasn’t dampened punter’s enthusiasm for the filly in Saturday’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks. The daughter of Dubawi was the dominate winner of the traditional lead-up race, the G2 The Roses a fortnight ago and given that eight of the last nine Oaks winners have come out of The Roses, it’s no surprise to see her alone at the top of betting at $2.50.
Tinto, who ran second to Arabian Gold last start, is $7.50 on the next line of betting with Victorian filly Rock Diva, who has drawn horribly in gate 23, the next best at $8.50 and the only other runner under double figure odds in early betting. Lining up in this year’s race will be Sancerre who is out of 2004 Qld Oaks winner Vouvray. Like her dam was when successful, Sancerre is also quoted at odds of $17.00.
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1. ARABIAN GOLD – B Shinn (1)
Made three straight Group race victories with a comfortable 1 ¼ length win in last fortnight’s G2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben. She rounded the field up smartly in the straight after joining in confidently on the turn. Only previous attempt beyond 2400m resulted in a sixth (4.4 lengths) in last year’s VRC Oaks but is more seasoned now in much stronger form.
2. TINTO – T Bell (6)
From a wide barrier in the Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m), the Red Dazzler filly was sent forward and unlike her previous starts, settled on the pace. She fought on hard in the straight and prevailed by nose over Paris Match. Draw wide again at her next and most recent start, the G2 The Roses (2000m) but under Bell, found a nice spot in the run and chased Arabian Gold home well to run second (1 ¼ lengths). Drawn much better here compared to her last two and her last start effort, no reason why she won’t be involved in the finish again.
3. HERA – B Avdulla (5)
A former New Zealander galloper now with Newcastle Trainer Kris Lees, she made a very good impression in her Australian debut, running fourth (3 lengths) to Estonian Princess in the JHB Carr Stakes. The O’Reilly filly was posted deep throughout but fought on tenaciously and on that effort, was rated a solid 15/4 chance when, three weeks later, she contested the G2 The Roses (2000m). From gate four she found a nice spot but only battled in the straight, holding on for eighth (5.1 lengths). Whilst disappointing on face value, she was found to be injured after the race. Has a G2 win over 2000m in NZ on her resume, drawn well here and not to be dismissed lightly.
4. STAR FASHION – J Lloyd (8)
The very well bred Street Cry filly has been racing in solid form in Adelaide, running second at her last two starts – the G1 Scwheppes Oaks behind May’s Dream, and the Listed Centaura Stakes, finishing 1 ¼ lengths in arrears of Blue Ribbon. Closed steadily from worse than midfield in the Oaks to missed by a narrow margin and before having her chance in the Centaura, where she settled closer to the speed on a slow track. Back on top of the ground should suit and the form line through May’s Dream is strong.
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5. EVERY FAITH – G Boss (21)
Victorian filly trained by Robert Smerdon who has also been contesting the staying feature races in Adelaide of late. She finished ninth (3.3 lengths) behind May’s Dream and Star Fashion in the Schweppes Oaks (2000m) before closing steadily from back in the field to run third (1.9 lengths) to Rezoned in the G3 Fillies Classic (2500m). Kept coming last start but takes on some smarter ones here and will be giving them all a decent start from her wide gate.
6. TORNADO MISS – C Newitt (2)
Front-running Snitzel filly that has drawn ideally here. She led in the Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) two starts back but on the heavy conditions, was no match for the challengers late and finished fourth (5.7 lengths) before leading again and running a very cheeky race as a 60/1 chanec, holding on for third in last fortnight’s G2 The Roses (2000m). Will lead them away again but like last start, have a couple of proven performers who have also drawn well, breathing down her neck at the top of the straight.
7. KHUTULUN – B Melham (22)
Another Victorian, the filly from Luke Oliver’s Caulfield yard, she has had five starts since making her debut in March, winning two and running a place in each of her most recent outings. She fought on strongly from an on-pace position when third to Bring Back and Lady Tatia in a 2000m two starts back, before drawing wide, settling mid-field and closing well to claim second behind Sonntag over the same trip. Can’t knock her form and is improving with each run but the barrier draw her makes her job difficult.
8. ROCK DIVA – T Angland (23)
New Zealand galloper who won two from five at home, including the G3 Sunline Vase (2100m) before crossing the Tasman and lining up in the G2 The Roses, her first run in nine weeks. She draw thirteen in the field of sixteen in The Roses and was back with the tail-enders in the run but the finishing effort of Lucky Unicorn filly was very encouraging, closing well to run sixth (4 ¾ lengths) to Arabian Gold. Can only be better for that run and the bigger Eagle Farm circuit will be to her liking but again, no luck in terms of a gate and that’ll make it hard.
9. PARIS MATCH – N Rawiller (9)
Anthony Cummings’ filly who draw the widest gate in the G3 Adrian Knox (2000m) and was taking to the lead from where she boxed on very well in the heavy conditions, running fourth (4.8 lengths) behind Arabian Gold. Drew the second to widest gate in the Gold Coast Bracelet and from back in the field, made a sweeping run to get within a nose of winner of Tinto – who has been good again since. Well bred Street Cry filly who is an improving type. Top Jock onboard, drawn much better and on her last two starts, represents good value at $15.00.
10. RAUNCHY ROCKER – T Clark (14)
Decided to hand up the lead two starts back in a BM 70 (1600m) and was then blocked for a run when seventh of ten. The Gai Waterhouse runner then took on the older horses, stepped up to 2200m and produced a very strong effort to run fourth (long neck) to Black Jag at Scone a fortnight back in BM 75. Taken a different route to reach this race than most but fancy the daughter of Fastnet Rock will be up to the challenge.
11. TERAI – K McEvoy (10)
Made it two wins from four starts this prep with an impressive 1 ¾ length win in a BM 75 (1900m) at Canterbury just over a fortnight ago. The Teofilo filly settled at the back of the field and bided her time when the pace went on approaching the turn before being pulled out wide and extending well. That was her first start beyond a mile and she relished the trip. Takes on better class of horse her and does rise 2.5kgs but trip should suit and will be hitting the line hard.
12. ASADAUSKAITE – D Browne (18)
Bolted in when breaking her maiden status at Sydney’s Kensington track three starts back and was good again when third (4.9 lengths) in the Gold Coast Bracelet on a heavy track. Had come from behind in both of those races but after drawing fourteen of sixteen in the G2 The Roses, had to push forward and settled on the speed. The Pentire filly was quickly beaten however in the straight and weakened noticeably to run thirteenth (8.6 lengths) behind Arabian Gold. No doubt will be getting back in this race after again drawing poorly and whilst she’ll improve on last start, doubt by enough to be winning here.
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13. EXECUTE AT DAWN – M Cahill (13)
Won a Class 1 (1400m) at Beaudesert three starts back and then made it three career wins from nine starts, with a 1 ¾ length win in an Open 3yo race (2160m) a fortnight ago after securing a nice run from an inside gate. Going well but this race is a whole new level and will struggle to take the step up.
14. MOON AND THE STARS – R Jamieson (15)
The Casino Prince filly will struggle here after running eighth (7 ¼ lengths) in the Gold Coast Bracelet and twelfth (8 ½ lengths) of sixteen in the G2 The Roses at her two most recent starts. Nothing in either performance would suggest she is capable of winning here.
15. SISTER SOUSS – R Wiggins (4)
Patinack Farm runner who two starts ago, as the 5/2 favourite, failed by a nose in a Class 3 (1800m) at the Sunshine Coast on a slow track. Off that effort, the Husson filly was given little chance in the G2 The Roses at her following start and was sent out a 60/1 shot. Like she has done here, she draw well (3) and pinched runs along the fence in the run home to belie her odds and finishing fourth (3.9 lengths) behind Arabian Gold. Even with another cheap run, hard to see her winning here.
16. SANCERRE – V Colgan (11)
A New Zealand filly by O’Reilly who has won both of her races since coming to Australia in very good style. She carried 59kgs on a slow track to win a Sunshine Coast Class 1 by 2 ½ before heading out to Ipswich and defeated five rivals by three lengths in a BM 80 (2200m). She has been taken along very quietly by her trainer Tony Pike but is showing all the right attributes to make it in the top grade.
17. SNAPCRACKLE – (17)
She enjoyed both the step up from 1400m to 1800m and the heavy conditions, to win her second race last start – a Class 2 (1800m) on the Gold Coast. Will continue to win her share of races as she goes through the grade but a Group 1 at the moment is aiming too high.
18. RING DA BELLE – M Rodd (20)
Well related Sebring filly who unlike here Listed winning siblings Shamillion and Karacatis, is showing a liking for her races to be over a bit more ground. She gave her opponents a start and a hiding when recording a three length win in a Class 1 at Wagga (1800m) almost a fortnight ago. That was her second win from her past three starts and whilst it showed her potential, a race like at this stage of her career may be too soon.
19. EKOFANIDEA (12) – 1st Emergency
Won a Gold Coast Maiden and Sunshine Coast Class 1 in consecutive starts recently before falling just short in a Grafton Class 3 (1725m) and Gold Coast Class 2 (1800m) at his two most recent starts, running second and third respectively. Needed to be winning those kinds of races by a space to have a chance here.
20. GRANADOS – (19) – 2nd Emergency
Finally broke her maiden status two runs back, at her eighth career start – an Eagle Farm Maiden (2242m) before running fourth in a field of nine behind Execute At Dawn at Ipswich last start. If she gains a start, will struggle and drawn wide.
21. FALAMONTE (3) 3rd Emergency
The Falkirk filly is trained by Robbie Laing and has had each of her four runs since debuting in February, well spaced. After winning a Kyneton Maiden (1850m) at her second start, she contested the Listed Gaililee Final (2400m) and then Adelaide’s Fillies Classic (2500m), finishing seventh and fourth respectively, both on slow tracks. Dour type who will have no problems the trip.
22. SOMERSET LASS – (16) 4th Emergency
Started the 9/4 favourite when winning at Toowoomba (2150m) two starts ago and punters stuck with her when she next lined up at Ipswich, in a Open Class 3yo race over 2160m. Drew wide and settled back in the field before finishing steadily to run third (2.6 lengths) behind the winner, Execute At Dawn.
23. SAVVY KINGSTONETTE – (7) 5th Emergency
Another lightly raced Robbie Laing filly that broke her maiden status at her most recent start, a Cranbourne RST 58 (2060m). Better placed elsewhere.
RACE OVERVIEW
Prepared to forgive Hera her last start and give her another chance her after drawing well in five which should see Avdulla have her in the box seat throughout. Her form in New Zealand was first rate and included a G3 win plus a victory in a Stakes race over ATC Oaks winner Rising Romance. She should give a big sight at double figure odds. Arabian Gold is the favourite and rightly so. The Dubawi mare has been in great form this time in. She’s unbeaten on a Slow/Heavy track in five starts but on a firmer surface, over 2400m, the current price is as short as you’d like to have to take. Nothing wrong with Tinto’s run last start and from a nice draw will get the chance to repeat that effort here. Couple in the middle of the field that show plenty of promise are Raunchy Rocker, Paris Match and Terai, along with Sancerre all attract plenty of attention at double figure odds. Each of these fillies are improving types and are all coming off good performances.
- HERA
- ARABIAN GOLD
- SANCERE
- TINTO
In the news:
Hayes Oaks runner in new gear
Trainer David Hayes has made an important gear change for Queensland Oaks hopeful Star Fashion on the 30th anniversary of his father Colin Hayes’s biggest Queensland win.
The late Colin Hayes is a Hall of Fame trainer but he was a rare visitor to Queensland with Look ALoft’s 1984 Queensland Oaks his best win in Brisbane.
David Hayes was the youngest trainer inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008, but is yet to taste Group One success in Brisbane.
Star Fashion has the form to be a genuine Queensland Oaks (2400m) hope at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Hayes has taken the near side blinker off for the first time and added blinkers again to Star Fashion’s gear. He has also taken the bubble cheekers off.
“I was worried she might hang with the one-eyed blinker so I put the full blinkers on her,” Hayes said.”
“She has worked the Brisbane way of going when in Sydney without any trouble so I don’t see her having any trouble on Saturday.”
Hayes said the threat of rain was no worry for Star Fashion although she would not want it too wet.
“She deserves another chance at a Group One and her record should be a lot better than it appears on paper,” he said.”
Star Fashion ran close seconds in the Group One Australasian Oaks and Listed Centaurea Stakes at her past two starts.
Although Star Fashion’s only win was in a Geelong maiden she ran second in the Group Two Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) in Melbourne during the spring.
Comeback jockey Jeff Lloyd takes over on Star Fashion.
He missed 13 months of racing after suffering a stroke at Caloundra but has been in fine form since he resumed riding with seven winners since March.
Hayes said Lloyd should suit Star Fashion as he was a jockey who had ridden Group winners worldwide.
Arabian Gold remains the dominant favourite to give trainer David Vandyke his first Group One success.
