Bohemian Lily On Queensland Oaks Path Following Gold Coast Bracelet Win

Tough filly Bohemian Lily will head to the 2015 Queensland Oaks after she recorded a tough staying victory in the Gold Coast Bracelet at the Gold Coast this afternoon.

Bohemian Lily is the horse to beat in the 2015 Brisbane Cup following her impressive win in the Chairman's Handicap. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Bohemian Lily is the horse to beat in the 2015 Brisbane Cup following her impressive win in the Chairman’s Handicap. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Sheiswhatsheis was a big drifter heading into the Gold Coast Bracelet, but jockey Tegan Harrison elected to press forward on the undefeated filly in the early stages of the race, while Blake Shinn was happy to settle Bohemian Lily just behind the leader.

Shinn elected to apply the pressure to Sheiswhatsheis coming around the final turn and Bohemian Lily responded well when asked for an extra effort to outstay her rivals and record a comfortable win from Col ‘N’ Lil and Sheiswhatsheis.

Waterhouse was happy with the performance of Bohemian Lily in the Gold Coast Bracelet and she confirmed that the promising filly would press on to the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben on May 30.

“It was very exciting,” Waterhouse said after the race.

“This filly was sent over by Kevin Hickman, who has Silent Achiever, and he sent her over specifically to come up to Queensland to target the Oaks.

“I was very impressed with the way that she ran the other day and she has done very well since coming north and her coat has really come right.

“There wasn’t much speed in the race, so we may as well go forward and she just out-stayed them.”

Shinn said after the race that he was happy to settle Bohemian Lily close to the speed in the Gold Coast Bracelet and he revealed that the O’Reilly filly got into a lovely rhythm in the early stages of the race.

The leading jockey admitted that he was always confident that Bohemian Lily would be able to outstay her rivals in the Gold Coast Bracelet and he is confident that she will have no problems running out a strong 2200 metres in the Queensland Oaks.

“The first part of the race was quiet quick, but once Tegan established her spot in front she just backed it off a touch and I was getting into a comfortable rhythm,” Shinn said.

“I just rolled with her and Gai’s horses are able to maintain that rhythm and be strong at the end, so I applied the pressure a little bit early to suit myself and it was a good performance.

“Gai has had the Queensland Oaks right from the start of the prep with this filly and it is a nice box to tick off along the way.”

The 2014 edition of the Gold Coast Bracelet was won by Tinto, who went on to take out the Queensland Oaks.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.