A win by Arabian Gold in The Roses at Doomben on Saturday will guarantee her favouritism for the Group 1 $400,000 Treasury Casino & Hotel Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31.
Arabian Gold is short priced favourite for The Roses. Photo by Steve Hart.
The David Vandyke trained Arabian Gold is a short priced favourite to complete a hat trick of wins in the Group 2 $175,000 XXXX Gold The Roses (2000m) at Doomben following her two victories during the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
The Dubawi filly was successful in the Group 3 $200,000 TAB Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) on April 12 and the Group 3 $150,000 Johnnie Walker Frank Packer Plate (2000m) on April 26 both at Randwick.
And a win in The Roses would convince Vandyke to give Arabian Gold her chance to win the last Oaks of the racing season.
“She is really well and in great form,’’ Vandyke told The Daily Telegraph.
“The inside barrier is ideal and this looks a very winnable race.
“All going well, we will give her a crack at the Queensland Oaks next start.’’
Vandyke was happy to miss the Group 1 $1m Seven News Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick during ‘The Championships’ and says that Arabian Gold is more seasoned now to tackle the 2400m.
“If we had started her in the ATC Australian Oaks and she didn’t handle the distance, then we would have missed out on these valuable opportunities,’’ Vandyke said.
“But the Queensland Oaks suits because she will go to that race a very fit and in-form filly and whatever happens she is off to the spelling paddock after that race.’’
Arabian Gold currently heads the market order for The Roses at $2.20 with Ladbrokes.com.au while she is marked at $5 for the Queensland Oaks behind New Zealand filly Telepathic at $4.40 and Hera at $4.80.
The Kris Lees trained Hera is the second pick for The Roses at $4 and a win by either her or Arabian Gold at Doomben will elevate them to the top spot for the Queensland Oaks.
