Historical Analysis of the Queensland Oaks
The Queensland version of the Oaks has been a guide to producing a few future quality horses. Ethereal and Arctic Scent won Caulfield Cups later that year (of course Ethereal won an even bigger race). It’s also a race for the blueblood fillies as there have been some legendary bloodlines taking out the G1 staying feature. Any more Caulfield Cup winners we can find?
PROFILING THE RACE
o Run this year at Doomben 2200m.
o In some runnings, there’s been a distinct lack of black type winning form for recent Oaks winners. Makes you think it’s more of a consolation prize. A lot of the form lead ins are either placings or class grade staying events. Should it be made into a Mares Staying Championship to end the season?
o Barriers haven’t been that important but that can depend on track conditions.
o Interstate and NZ trainers have had a field day. Mon Mekki was the only local horse to win for years before Tinto.
o The Zabeel and Danehill influence is strong. Last 20 Zabeel has 4 wins, Danehill two.
o Some of the great bloodlines have been re-established with the Denise’s Joy lineage from Joie Denise, Naturalism’s sister Crystal Palace winning and Romanee Conti was a top quality mare before producing Ethereal.
o Last 10 Winners Average Price of winner - $10
o Races that the winner ran in prior - Doomben Roses (9), Class 2 (1)
RECENT WINNERS
Barrier: 5, Weight: 56.5kg, Gross Time: 2:29.46
Margin: 1.5L, Track: Good (3), Starters: 182nd: Arabian Gold (56.5kg), 3rd: Sister Souss (56.5kg)
Review: So often the Doomben Roses is the lead up race to note the most for the Oaks. It’s produced nine of the last ten winners. And while Arabian Gold was a dominant winner at Doomben, Tinto made good late ground.
Once more the favourite landed the one barrier but this time Tinto was able to be ridden much closer. They were near each other in the run but coming to the turn, Shinn gambled on an inside split while Bell came around them.
The fav ambled up and looked the winner but with a combination of a drying track and not running the 2400m, she was no match up the last furlong to Tinto. It gave Bell his first G1 and the three feature winners on the day with the Guineas and the QTC Cup.
2013 - GONDOKORO 3f (Zabeel x Kisumu) ($4.50)
Jockey: Rhys McLeod, Trainer: Pat CareyBarrier: 1, Weight: 56.5kg, Gross Time: 2:32.17
Margin: 3L, Track: Slow, Starters: 172nd: Miss Zenella (56.5kg), 3rd: Vaquera (56.5kg)
Review: Her full brother was already a G1 winner of a Derby and this filly had already been around in two Oaks races herself. She was OK in the first and then, while beaten a margin to Royal Descent, was decent again.
Perhaps her biggest hurdle was drawing gate one because she had shown some signs of barrier issues but she away solidly enough. Actually she landed the spot behind Dear Demi and followed her for half the race.
But once N Rawiller got off the fence at the 800m McLeod popped inside and saved four lengths. Then when DD was searching for runs turning, Gondo was out in the clear (with a shove or two) and it was over. She simply outstayed them.
Barrier: 1, Weight: 56.5kg, Gross Time: 2:38.40
Margin: 2.5L, Track: Heavy, Starters: 172nd: Eliza Blues (56.5kg), 3rd: Vittoria (56.5kg)
Review: It was an incredibly heavy track. Not quite to the call off stage but certainly a Heavy 10 as the time indicated. Usually drawing inside is not the best on wet going but it saved plenty of ground as others went wide.
Browne was able to sit more forward than the Roses, take a gap turning and in the end it was a romp. Form out of the race has not been great.
