The Queensland Oaks is a Group 1 horse race held each year at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane. This event is a set-weights race for three year old fillies, run over a distance of 2400 metres for $400,000 in prize money. The Queensland Oaks has been run since 1951, with both local and interstate horses winning here over the years.
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The inaugural Queensland Oaks was held as the Queensland Oaks Stakes, with favourite Malt Maid winning during a Christmas meeting at Eagle Farm Racecourse on December 27, 1951. By 1953 the Queensland Oaks was run on the Queensland Cup race card in November, with the event moved in 1973 to become part of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.
The Queensland Oaks was a Principal Race in the early years, graduating to Group 1 status in 1980. Originally run over 1 1/2 miles, this event became a 2400 metre event in 1973 with the advent of the metric system. While the Queensland Oaks does attract a solid field, it is not generally as strong as the Group 1 AJC Oaks at Randwick in Sydney or the Group 1 Crown Oaks at Flemington in Melbourne.
While most of the participants in this race are local fillies, there has been some interstate interest in the Queensland Oaks over the years. Some of the notable names to have won this event include Evening Pearl in 1955, Surround in 1977, and Ethereal in 2001. In recent years, winners of this event include Riva San in 2008, Purple in 2009, Miss Keepsake in 2010, Scarlett Lady in 2011, Quintessential in 2012, and Gondokoro in 2013.
The Group 3 Doomben Roses over 2000 metres earlier in the Brisbane carnival at Doomben is a common lead up race for the Queensland Oaks, with Heavenly Glow in 2008, Cinque Cento in 2005, and The Jewel in 2003 all having won the Doomben Roses before placing in this race. In 2011, Scarlett Lady was the most recent filly to win the Doomben Roses and Queensland Oaks double.
Queensland Oaks 2014 odds comparison
News:
Phillip Stokes is facing a dilemma over whether to run Hucklebuck in Saturday’s Queensland Guineas or save him for the Stradbroke Handicap.
Hucklebuck has been paid up for the Group Two Queensland Guineas (1400m) but after the release of first acceptances for Saturday week’s Stradbroke on Wednesday, Hucklebuck is safely in the field at number 14 in the ballot.
Stokes said he had a bit to think about given he initially figured Hucklebuck would have to run in the Guineas and win to get into the Stradbroke field.
Hucklebuck has also drawn barrier 15 for Saturday’s Eagle Farm race which has a capacity field of 18 plus five emergencies.
He would come into gate 11 if the reserves don’t start.
“He’s got a run in the Stradbroke so do we run on Saturday and hope we get in (from the barrier draw), or just scratch him and go to the Stradbroke? I’m still thinking about that,” Stokes said.
Stokes will speak with Hucklebuck’s owner and study a speed map for the Guineas before deciding whether the gelding runs in the $350,000 race against his own age.
Hucklebuck raced keenly when he resumed from a let-up in the Group Three Fred Best Classic (1350m) on May 17 at Doomben, finishing fourth after leading.
He is unbeaten in two second-up starts including a 1-1/4 length success in the Group Three C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington in February.
Stokes said Hucklebuck had taken good improvement out of his first run in Brisbane.
“We’re happy with the horse,” Stokes said.
“He’s done well since his first-up run and his second-up record is very good.”