'Tart' Adds Some Bite to Oaks

Despite being moved from Eagle Farm to Doomben and seeing its distance chopped from 2400 metres to 2200 metres, the A$500,000 G1 Queensland Oaks sees a full field of 16 line up plus three emergencies Saturday. Trainer Chris Waller sends out seven runners, among them the $3.30 market favourite Egg Tart (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}). The Hermitage Syndicate colourbearer has been on a bit of a tear of late, rolling through five straight wins since breaking her maiden last November. A top-level victory went her way last out by a slim margin in the G1 Schweppes Oaks stepping up to 2010 metres at Morphettville May 6. Egg Tart ran fifth in a 1030-metre barrier trial May 26.

Also representing Waller is $7.00 shot Dawn Wall (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The Coolmore runner saluted in Kembla Grange's G3 Arrowfield Kembla Classic going a mile Mar. 10, but was less effective when sixth in the heavy going of the 2000-metre G1 Vinery Stud S. at Rosehill Mar. 25. Following two barrier trials, the Aug. 30-foaled bay returned in fine shape, scoring in good going in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet S. with Hugh Bowman aboard May 6.

The consistent Kenedna (Aus) (Not a Single Doubt {Aus}) was just touched off by Egg Tart in the Schweppes Oaks May 6, but she is well seasoned and should be up for this first try beyond 2000 meters. The Darren Weir trainee landed the May 20 G2 The Magic Millions Roses and she is second choice Saturday at $4.40. Earlier in the campaign, Kenedna earned wins in the Listed Laelia S. at Morphettville Apr. 8 and in the 1800-metre G3 Auraria S. there later that month.

“It probably helps her I would say because she's won there and instead of it being 2400m, it's 2200m which is not a massive step,” Weir told Racing.com of the venue change for his filly. The only concern I would have is that Johnny [Allen] said that she never really handled the track at all the other day, even though she won. But providing it's not too wet, I'm looking at it as a plus for her.”