Oaks Take Two

The G1 Queensland Oaks was scheduled to highlight last Saturday's card at Eagle Farm, but torrential rains saw that program scrapped and the feature pushed back a week. The field remains the same bar the scratching of Beluga Blue (Aus) (Lookin At Lucky), which lets the emergency Provocative (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) in.

The field features the top four finishers, among others, from the G2 The Roses S. over 2000 metres at Doomben May 21. The winner that day was the upsetter Kebede (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), who has raced with admirable consistency this season but has yet to run beyond 2000 metres or at this class level. The Roses second Sebring Sally (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) won the Listed Strutt S. over 2100 metres in Tasmania in February before flopping in the Listed Tasmanian Oaks over the same trip, but rebounded well last out. Imposing Lass (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) put together an unbeaten prep before finishing third in The Roses after being caught wide.

Of The Roses also-rans, Ambience (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) has the back class to rebound, having finished second in the G1 Australian Oaks at The Championships prior to finishing 12th in The Roses after finding trouble at the back of the field. The Godolphin colourbearer and half-sister to Pierro (Aus) was also third in the G1 Crown Oaks in the spring, so should have no trouble with the distance. Falkenberg (Aus) (More Than Ready) is the lukewarm early favourite off a seventh in The Roses. Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, she finished first or second in her first five starts and was fourth, beaten two lengths, in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet S. May 7 prior to her Roses effort. Chabaud (Aus) (Lookin At Lucky), fifth in the Australian Oaks, comes into this off a win in the 2500 metre G3 SA Fillies Classic at Morphettville May 21.