A winter carnival that threatened to descend into a farce resumes with the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (Race 7) to be run over 2200m at Doomben on Saturday.
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Originally slated for Eagle Farm, the nine-race card had to be transferred following an emergency meeting of officials on Monday.
That was in response to widespread criticism from a number of prominent trainers and jockeys with the surface offered up for last week’s DKS Cup deemed ‘inferior’ for Group 1 racing.
Chris Waller was one of those keen to express an opinion and with no less than seven of his horses engaged in the Oaks, one suspects he’s more than happy with the switch.
Waller’s contingent includes favourite Egg Tart, a progressive filly who remains unbeaten this preparation following a heart-stopping win in the Schweppes Oaks at Morphettville last month.
Riding for luck, jockey Kerrin McEvoy was able to navigate a passage between horses in the straight and the bay responded in style to gun down Kenedna in the shadows of the post.
No horse has ever completed the SA-Qld Oaks double, but we fully expect her to be the first on Saturday.
Kenedna comes off a pretty strong win in the Roses on this track a fortnight ago and will be looking to give Darren Weir a maiden win in the event.
The Roses has proven to be a solid pointer towards this race of late with the likes of Tinto (2014), Gondokoro (2013) and Scarlett Lady (2011) all finishing top-two there prior to claiming the Oaks.
Despite Weir’s suggestion that the furlong drop in distance would be to her advantage, our traders felt she was vulnerable here and we are looking to take her on.
In a battle between two of the country’s biggest racing operations, we have landed squarely in the Waller corner.
Indeed, the first three placegetters out of what proved to be a fantastic Oaks will be on show with Stuart Webb’s Ana Royale another to continue on to Brisbane.
Like Kenedna, this filly has had the benefit of another run and disposed of a mediocre field in some style in the SA Fillies Classic with a typically powerful run.
Hard to fault what she has done but at around the 6/1 mark we feel she’s found her right price.
Of the others, Waller will also be represented by the promising Dawn Wall, who comes off a fluid performance in the Gold Coast Bracelet but will have to cope with an awkward draw (16) here.
While Oklahoma Girl kept Kenedna honest in the Roses and is another with solid claims based on that performance, with Blake Shinn set to ride the filly for the first time under race conditions.
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TIPS:
- Egg Tart
- Kenedna
- Dawn Wall
- Oklahoma Girl
Tips and Preview provided by UniBet. Read more about UniBet at https://www.justhorseracing.com.au/reviews/unibet