No Australian Oaks For Arabian Gold

Trainer David Vandyke has ruled out a tilt at the 2014 Australian Oaks for Arabian Gold, but he revealed that the talented filly could contest the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Arabian Gold is a chance to contest the 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick this weekend.

Arabian Gold is a chance to contest the 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

Arabian Gold returned to her best form with a convincing win on a wet track in the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) at Randwick last Saturday, a race that was won by Royal Descent last year before she went on to win the Australian Oaks, but Vandyke does not believe the Dubawi filly is capable of running a strong 2400 metres after she finished sixth in the Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington last year.

“She doesn’t get 2400 metres and she is not paid up for the Oaks,” Vandyke told AAP.

“We are likely to get a wet track again for the Queen Elizabeth and it’s tempting to go there with a light weight.

“The other race (owner) Nick (Moraitis) is keen on is the Frank Packer Plate; that’s the race that launched Might And Power.

“We are also looking at a Brisbane campaign for Arabian Gold and there are a lot of options for her.”

Jockey Blake Shinn celebrated his 1000th race win as a jockey when he partnered Arabian Gold to victory in the Adrian Knox Stakes and he was very pleased with the performance of the three-year-old.

Shinn, who will partner Zanbagh in the Australian Oaks on Saturday, has a very high opinion of Arabian Gold and believes that she will run well in whichever race that she is set for during her autumn preparation.

“I think that no matter where Dave decides to run her she is going to be competitive,” Shinn told Racing Ahead this morning.

“She is a horse that puts her heart on the line every time that she goes out on the track and that is what I love about her.

“She is not very big, but she has a heart as big as herself.”

The last filly to contest the Queen Elizabeth Stakes was Serious Speed, who finished fifth behind Sarrera in 2008, while Champagne finished second behind Might And Power in the 1998 edition of the race.

Arabian Gold ($31) is currently on the ninth line of 2014 Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting markets from Carlton House ($3.50), Silent Achiever ($4.40), It’s A Dundeel ($6), Royal Descent ($9) and Sacred Falls ($9).

About The Author

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.