BRISBANE PREVIEW June 5, 2010 QUEENSLAND OAKS (2400M) Race 7, 4.00pm (Brisbane time) The Group 3 Doomben Roses (2020m, Doomben) is living up to its reputation as the ideal lead-up race to Saturday’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m, Eagle Farm). The last five winners of the Oaks have used the Roses, run two weeks earlier, as their lead into the Classic – funnily enough none of them won at Doomben, in fact, only two (Purple, 3rd in 2009 and Eskimo Queen, 3rd in 2007) were able to run a place. Only one filly has completed the Doomben Roses-Queensland Oaks double, and that filly was a champion – Ethereal in 2001 – who went on to win the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup double that spring. I’m tipping the trend of non-winners of the Roses taking out the Oaks, and I have a bit in my favour in selecting Dariana – trained by Bart Cummings and part-owned by his old mate, the lucky Dato Tan Chin Nam. The pair combined to win the VRC Oaks with Faint Perfume in the spring, but that filly found Once Were Wild a shade too good in the Australian Oaks at Randwick in the autumn. Dariana doesn’t have the record of Faint Perfume, but she is a latedeveloping filly, who hit the line impressively for third behind Marheta and Femina Fashion in the Doomben Roses. Importantly, it was her first run for 28 days, so it it safe to say that the filly can only improve. Before that, she beat the colts and geldings in the G3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick – that’s the best form line of all the fillies in this race.
SPEED MAP Predicted positions on settling
The form suggests that there will be little between Marheta and Femina Fashion. Two runs back, they also fought out the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m), but this time Femina Fashion had the edge over an unlucky Marheta. Trainer Michael Moroney is confident Marheta can give him his second Queensland Oaks, after winning it in 2007 with Eskimo Queen. The Victorian filly’s form has improved as her distances have been stretched. Femina Fashion will work forward and take up her usual position in or near the lead. The Shamardal filly fights hard, and she will run a very cheeky race. New Zealand-trained fillies usually play a hand in this race and this year is no exception. Spera ran 4th in the Doomben Roses after working from a wide draw. I expect her to settle close to the lead from barrier one. Fairy Oak is a talented filly, who will run this trip out strongly. Unfortunately, barrier 21 – 16 if the emergencies don’t run – means jockey Luke Nolen will have to go back. The draw has taken the gloss off her chances, but she’s certainly good enough – trainer Peter Moody rates her with his 2008 Oaks winner Riva San. Miss Keepsake has claims on the strength of her recent provincial form. The weather report predicts fine and warm days in Brisbane, which will ensure a track no worse than dead, and possibly good on Saturday. The tips: Dariana to beat Marheta, Spera, Status Quo, Femina Fashion, Fairy Oak and Miss Keepsake.
AND ALSO One of the few delights of ageing is recalling the ‘good old days’, and said days just might help And Also earn some cash at Flemington tomorrow. Our suggestion is that Danny O’Brien will train a winner – the odds would have been shorter years ago because back then trainers planning a holiday could get the readies with a wellplanned betting coup. In these ‘modern times’ when transparency allegedly rules, such things don’t stand out as much, but And Also suggests that when O’Brien takes the family to Italy for a few weeks on Wednesday, he would like to have plenty on his credit card. The Flemington trainer has three runners and the middle pin (Ca pe South, $21, R7) looks only a rough chance. The other two are in it up to their ears at eachway odds – Lord Pyrus ($4.60, R6) and Re pu table ($7, R8) – so the suggestion is to back the first and stop if it wins, have a go at the second if it doesn’t. The jocks are interesting engagements, too. Craig Newitt being on Lord Pyrus again underlines that, in racing, time and pragmatism heal all wounds (remember Leone Chiara!). And Boss sticking with Reputable simply adds to the chances of the ‘all or nothing’ gelding (he has five wins, no placings from 21 starts). And Also is betting that tomorrow is the day. Furthermore, if you’re looking for a jockey to follow at the meeting, stick with the Boss man. And if you know of anyone else taking a break, feel free to have a crack at his/her horses, too. Stephen Howell