Trainer Paul Snowden’s hopes of drawing a wide barrier for Falkenberg in Saturday’s Queensland Oaks were dashed when the filly came up with the number three marble in the final field of eighteen plus four emergencies.
Blake Shinn will ride Falkenberg in the Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
Falkenberg has been slowly away at her two Queensland runs after being fractious in the barriers and Snowden said that if she drew an outside gate, the filly would be one of the last ones to load into the starting gates before the running of the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Casino & Hotel Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm.
“But I would rather draw barrier eighteen with Falkenberg because she will be in there less time and she hasn’t seen the outside of any other runner for the last two starts,” said Paul Snowden who trains in partnership with his father Peter.
“Her last two runs have been like barrier trials.”
“She was just in there a while at the Gold Coast and was kicking out but it was nothing like the other day and that was a one-off thing and she has never done that before.”
“We just have to make sure we have the horse right on the day and (jockey) Blake Shinn will be aware of it and we will have a man up there with her.”
Falkenberg was lashing out in the barriers before running fourth to Imposing Lass in the Listed $125,000 All-New Jaguar XE Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 7 and then missed the start by several lengths when she got her hind leg caught up on the partition as the gates opened in Group 2 $175,000 Magic Millions The Roses (2000m) at Doomben on May 21.
The More Than Ready filly then settled near the tail of the field before making up ground in the straight to finish seventh to Kebede in her final Queensland Oaks lead up race.
In a wide open betting race, Falkenberg shares favouritism with Imposing Lass at $7 at Ladbrokes.com.au with the Clarry Conners trained Dawnie Perfect on the next line of betting at $8.50 with Romantic Maid.
Imposing Lass has drawn barrier ten with Jason Collett to ride while the Roger James trained Romantic Maid drew fifteen with Sam Clipperton and Dawnie Perfect has drawn the outside gate and will jump from eighteen with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.
Queensland Oaks market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $7 Imposing Lass, Falkenberg, $8.50 Dawnie Perfect, Romantic Maid, $9 Provocative, $11 Kebede, Chabaud, $12 Ambience, $13 Self Esteem, Tavi Bay, $21 Dulverton, Tap This, Sebring Sally, $26 Zasorceress, Alaskan Rose, Mount Omei, $31 Beluga Blue, $41 Queens Of Wands, $51 Ashlee Marie, Sahara Siren, Zafiki, $67 Meru.
