The 2018 Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Doomben on Saturday is the last classic for the three year old fillies in the 2017-2018 Australian racing season. Sixteen fillies will line up in the Queensland Oaks which will be run over the shorter distance of 2200m at Doomben for the third time after being transferred from its spiritual home at Eagle Farm where the fillies ran over the traditional 2400m.
Recently inducted Hall Of Fame trainer Chris Waller has already tasted Group 1 success during this year’s Queensland Winter Racing Carnival with Comin’ Through winning last week’s Group 1 Doomben Cup and the master trainer will saddle up five runners in the Queensland Oaks, including the top two in the betting at Ladbrokes.com.au, Youngstar and Another Dollar.
We will assess the prospects of all sixteen fillies and see if there is any with a chance of upsetting the Chris Waller onslaught.
Aloisia
The Ciaron Maher trained Aloisia is the only Group 1 winner in the Queensland Oaks field after winning the Thousand Guineas over 1600m at Caulfield during the 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival. Aloisia then went on to win the Group 2 The Vase over 2040m at The Valley before failing to fill a place in the 2500m Group 1 Kennedy Oaks at Flemington. The filly has only been placed once from her next five starts in tough company and was only beaten one and a half lengths last start when sixth in the Australasian Oaks over 2000m at Morphettville. Aloisia has the class to win but has to regain her best Spring form to claim the major prize.
Sheezdashing
Sheezdashing is racing in the best form of her career but is struggling to find the winner’s stall after being runner up at her last three starts. The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra trained filly is also flying in from Adelaide where she ran second to Sopressa in the Australasian Oaks and if she can repeat that effort will be among the major end of the prizemoney again. Sheezdashing will get a nice run from barrier three but will need luck finding clear space in the home straight.
Youngstar
Youngstar is the first of Chris Waller’s five runners and has been installed the favourite for the Queensland Oaks with Ladbrokes.com.au after she continued on her upward spiral with her last start win in the Group 2 The Roses over 2000m at Doomben. Youngstar is lining up for her fourth win on the trot and Kerrin McEvoy will give the High Chaparral filly every chance from barrier four. The one to beat.
Savacool
Savacool is another from the Waller stable who has plenty of miles under her belt and is lining up in the Queensland Oaks after racing in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide this campaign. The Savabeel filly finished second at Rosehill before winning over 1600m at Caulfield prior to heading to Morphettville where she finished seventh in the Australasian Oaks. Waller is giving Savacool one more chance to claim a coveted Oaks victory before the end of the season. The filly is facing another tough run from an awkward barrier draw.
Another Dollar
Another Dollar has been working her way up through the grades and produced a career best run last start when she chased home her Chris Waller trained stablemate Youngstar when runner up in The Roses. An inside barrier draw will give new rider Glyn Schofield the chance to ride Another Dollar in a forward position which will be very handy over the 2200m around Doomben. She is on the second line of betting at Ladbrokes.com.au and should be among the prizemoney again.
Tinkermosa
Tinkermosa has been racing consistently in restricted grade with three seconds and a win from her last four starts around the provincials and the Sydney midweeks with her latest effort being a recent second over 2139m at Warwick Farm. Has place claims again.
Highway
The Steve Englebrecht trained Highway ran out of her skin last start to stick on for third behind Youngstar and Another Dollar in The Roses after racing on the pace. Deanne Panya will probably push forward again from an awkward barrier draw and her stamina will be tested again.
Joyfilly Ours
Joyfilly Ours has been well beaten at all three starts this campaign and was sent out at long odds last start when sixth in The Roses and will be one of the outsiders again in the Queensland Oaks.
Play That Song
Play That Song made up a little bit of ground last start coming from last when seventh in The Roses and barrier fifteen will probably see Michael Cahill settle the filly well back in the field again. Has a lot of work to do.
Coral Coast
Trainer Anthony Freedman has opted to put the blinkers on Coral Coast who was doing her best work at the finish last start when fourth in The Roses. Mark Zahra has the job ahead to slot Coral Coast into a trailing position from the outside barrier with the blinkers on for the first time. Needs a lot of luck.
Terra Sancta
Kiwi filly Terra Sancta was unplaced in the Group 1 2400m New Zealand Oaks in March but has won both her starts in restricted grade since. She has a reasonable draw at barrier eight and it is always wise to keep the Kiwis under close scrutiny.
Impulsive
Another filly with the Chris Waller polish who found winning form last start over 1800m at the Gold Coast. Waller must some opinion of the So You Think filly but place hopes look best.
Miss Shanti
Miss Shanti is the last of the Waller runners and is marked as one of the outsiders of the Queensland Oaks field coming off a last start second over 2000m at Hawkesbury.
Delaney’s Desire
A win by Delaney’s Desire would be the upset of the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival after the filly was well beaten in a 2200m three year old Handicap at the Sunshine Coast.
Protest
Protest was doing her best work over the concluding stages last start but looks outclassed on her second over 2200m at the Sunshine Coast.
She’s Reliable
The Kelly Schweida trained She’s Reliable is another filly that you can write you own ticket for coming off a maiden win over 1800m at the Gold Coast.