Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller will have multiple runners in Saturday’s Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben.
Egg Tart, above in green and red colours, is the top pick of trainer Chris Waller’s Queensland Oaks contingent. Photo by Jenny Barnes.
Waller has seven fillies among the first acceptances for the Queensland Oaks which has been transferred to Doomben from it’s traditional home at Eagle Farm because of the unsatisfactory conditions of the redeveloped track.
The distance for the Queensland Oaks has also been reduced from 2400m to 2200m.
Last start Schweppes Oaks winner Egg Tart heads up Waller’s Queensland Oaks hopefuls which also includes the well performed Dawn Wall, Oklahoma Girl and Invincibella along with restricted class fillies Baysa, Cross Stitch and Kirini.
“I wouldn’t say they’re all there with equal chances, but they’re all with their last chance to win some Black Type and obviously Group 1 status next to a filly is so important,” Waller told racing.com.
“Whatever we’ve got fit and ready to go will run in the Oaks.”
Egg Tart looks the number one pick from the Waller stable with Kerrin McEvoy taking the mount again after the pair combined to win the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Oaks (registered as Australasian Oaks) (2000m) at Morphettville on May 6.
Dawn Wall has recovered from an elevated temperature that forced her to miss a run in the Group 2 $175,000 The Magic Millions Roses (2000m) at Doomben on May 20 and has Hugh Bowman sticking with her in the Queensland Oaks after riding the Fastnet Rock filly to victory in the Listed $125,000 Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 6.
“I have been happy with the progress made by Dawn Wall over the past week which included a gallop on Thursday morning on the Gold Coast,” Waller said.
“It is still our intention to race in the Queensland Oaks (2400m) on Saturday the 3rd of June and will have two more gallops in preparation for this race.”
Oklahoma Girl is also in the mix and is coming off an unlucky last start second to Queensland Oaks rival Kenedna in The Roses.
Oklahoma Girl’s rider James Doyle protested unsuccessfully against Kenedna after the winner had pumped his mount on several occasions over the final 300m.
Egg Tart sits at the top of the Queensland Oaks market order at $3.20 with Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of SA Fillies Classic winner Ana Royale at $4.40 and the Darren Weir trained Kenedna at $4.80 with Oklahoma Girl at $8 and Dawn Wall at $8.50 the next two in the betting.
Market order for the Queensland Oaks at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.20 Egg Tart, $4.40 Ana Royale, $4.80 Kenedna, $8 Oaklahoma Girl, $8.50 Dawn Wall, $15 Baysa, $16 Parthesia, Shenandoah, $17 Bianca Cara, $21 Perilous Love, Pygmy, $26 Invincibella, Mia Rosa, $41 Cross Stitch, $67 Kirini, Lipstick Lover, Namib, Sharp Speedo, $101 Isn’t She Elegant, Miabla.
