Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Queensland Oaks: In-form fillies
Won last year by the outstanding Duais (Shamus Award), the G1 Queensland Oaks has attracted a classy group of fillies headlined by the last start G2 The Roses winner Barb Raider (Rebel Raider) and the exciting Gypsy Goddess (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}).
With six of the last 10 winners coming through The Roses it is certainly a race to pay attention to - especially as another seven of Saturday's Oaks contestants lined up in that race last weekend. They all looked to have their chance to run down Barb Raider but there were some nice efforts - in particular from the runner-up Belle Savoir (Not A Single Doubt) (two Roses' runners-up have won the Oaks in the last decade) and the third placed Smirk (NZ) (Preferment {NZ}).
Barb Raider (green cap) won the G2 The Roses | Image courtesy of Michael Mcinally
Glint Of Hope (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) comes off a gutsy win in the G1 Australasian Oaks (defeating Barb Raider) - a race which provided the 2017 Queensland Oaks winner Egg Tart (Sebring)
The G1 ATC Oaks has also proven a strong form reference, Duais finishing second last year - as did Winx (Street Cry {Ire}). Gypsy Goddess was second this year whilst Biscayne Bay (Sebring) was a game fifth finishing just ahead of Honeycreeper (Teofilo {Ire}) who was finishing off well. Gin Martini (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) and Le Villi (NZ) (Puccini {NZ}) contested the Oaks and The Roses and were both sound in each, the latter not having the best of luck last time out.
Glint Of Hope (white cap) held of Barb Raider (green cap) in the G1 Australasian Oaks | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Meanwhile an up-and-comer yet to contest a stakes race is being kept safe, Aravene (Fastnet Rock) (whose grandam She's Justa Tad {NZ} by Istidaad {USA}) won the G1 New Zealand Oaks) was impressive in winning her last couple in benchmark class at Sandown and Rosehill.
Queensland Oaks: Breeding ground for future stars
First run in 1951 (initially conducted in the summer and spring months and moving to a winter carnival slot in 1973), the G1 Queensland Oaks kicked off with a smart winner - Maltmaid (Malt Denis) going on to prove her worth on and off the track. With further Group race success as well as a G1 Stradbroke H. second, she produced the Listed winner Tandawanna (Dalray {NZ}) and she was grandam of another Queensland Oaks winner in Kulali (Smokey Eyes {Ire}), in turn dam of the dual Group winning sprinter Vain Prince (Vain).
And so began a Queensland Oaks tradition, a race which has been able to produce a number of quality performers and broodmares. Fifteen of its winners have gone onto further Group 1 glory though this is a little harder now with three of those (Riva San by Any Given Sunday, Bravery by Zephyr Zip {NZ}, BS Royal Magic {NZ} by Lord Ballina) counting the G1 Queensland Derby as their second elite level success, a race which is now run before the Oaks having traditionally been held afterwards.
Winx is of course the best known of those Oaks winners who have gone onto to even bigger and better things but she does not stand alone. Two Queensland Oaks heroines have shone on that famed first Tuesday in November - Evening Wood (Delville Wood {GB}) and Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm {USA}) were both subsequent G1 Melbourne Cup winners.
Ethereal (NZ) is one of two G1 Queensland Oaks winners who subsequently won a G1 Melbourne Cup | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Arctic Scent (Blazing Sword) meanwhile won the G1 Caulfield Cup whilst two have won the G1 Tancred - Bright Shadow (Smokey Eyes {Ire}) and Duais (Shamus Award) who also took out this year's G1 Australian Cup. Giovana (NZ) (Blues Traveller {Ire}) won three Group 1 races in New Zealand where Scarlett Lady (NZ) (Savabeel) enjoyed success in the G1 New Zealand S.
Mode (Aloe {Ire}) won the G1 Brisbane Cup, Eskimo Queen (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}) the G1 Coolmore Classic, Denise's Joy (Seventh Hussar {Fr}) the G1 Underwood and Analie (NZ) (Sovereign Edition {Ire}) the G1 Metropolitan. Meanwhile several other great fillies rounded off outstanding Group 1 careers with Queensland Oaks success - namely Triscay (Marscay), Slight Chance (NZ) (Centaine) and Surround (NZ) (Sovereign Edition {Ire}).
Denise's Joy, the influential mare who won the G1 Queensland Oaks before producing a winner of the same race | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Of the race's 69 winners, 18 have been represented by two or less named foals and of the rest 20 have produced stakes winners with Denise's Joy the most influential Queensland Oaks winner - her daughter Joie Denise (Danehill {USA}) also winning the race enroute to producing two Group 1 winners - Sunday Joy (Sunday Silence {USA}) and Tuesday Joy (NZ) (Carnegie {Ire}). Both Eskimo Queen (Dreamforce by Fastnet Rock) and Triscay (La Baraka by Euclase) were also represented by Group 1 winners with the latter proving an outstanding matriarch.
Listed Phoenix: Winter 2-year-olds seeking black type
Run since 1987 under various names (mainly the Doomben Slipper), the Listed Phoenix has on seven occasions been won by horses who have gone onto Group 1 glory: Shadow Hero (Pierro), Picaday (Piccolo {GB}), Drum (Marauding {NZ}), Boban (Bernardini {USA}), Al Mansour (At Talaq {USA}), Show A Heart (Brave Warrior) and Chortle (Rory's Jester).
Also won by the previous Group 1 winner Full And By (NZ) (Zephyr Bay), this year's edition sees the betting dominated by Political Debate (So You Think {NZ}) who has opened odds-on despite still being a maiden. A talented one however - the Chris Waller-trained colt really catching the eye with a fast-finishing G2 Champagne Classic third on just his second outing.
Political Debate (navy cap) was beaten by Swiss Exile (pink cap) in the G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic but heads the betting for the Listed The Phoenix | Image courtesy of Michael Mcinally
Victorian visitor Liberty Steps (Sidestep) didn't have much luck from a wide gate in the G2 BRC Sires' Produce S. but has drawn better this time. New Zealander Sharp 'N' Smart (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) comes off a Listed win from just his second start whilst Ringmaster (Zoustar) also looks promising.
West Of Africa (Not A Single Doubt) is one of those seeking to become the sixth Danehill (USA) line winner of this race and he was good to the line after giving his rivals a start in the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic.
Listed Bill Carter S.: 2-year-old fillies with talent
A year older than the Listed Phoenix S., this contest for the girls is another to have been run under various names including the Listed Sir Douglas Wadley H., though it has been run as the Listed Bill Carter S. since 2017.
Won on three occasions by future Group 1 winners - September Run (Exceed And Excel), Dantelah (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) and Nova Star (Iglesia), the 1200-metre dash is a race transferred from an abandoned meeting due to heavy rainfall a couple of weeks ago.
September Run went on to Group 1 glory after her Listed Bill Carter S. win | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Favourite then, and still so, is Zougotcha (Zoustar) who has trialled nicely since impressing with an easy Canterbury debut victory and a tough Randwick second off a less than ideal run in transit.
Exo Lady (Exosphere) didn't seem to run out a strong 1400 metres in the G2 BRC Sires' Produce S. but her previous run splitting Swiss Exile (Pariah) and Political Debate was full of merit. Plymstock (Ribchester {Ire}) on the other hand is up in distance and ready for it having finished off well in the Listed Darello S.
Exo Lady (orange cap) ran well in defeat to Swiss Exile (pink cap) in the G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic | Image courtesy of Michael Mcinally
Minks Star (Star Witness) was a Listed winner late last year and hasn't been having any luck this time around. The form from the G3 Ken Russell Memorial looks good with the third placed Sheeza Belter (Gold Standard) winning the Sires' since and Midnight In Tokyo (Kobayashi) was a fast-finishing second in that race. Also promising is the well-bred Bezique (Spirit Of Boom), daughter of the R. Listed Magic Millions winner Karuta Queen (Not A Single Doubt).
G2 Moreton Cup: Speed to burn
Run since 1979 (most often as the G2 QTC Cup), this is a race that has been won by some pretty classy sprinters - those on its honour roll including the multiple Gr.1 winners Schillaci (Salieri {USA}), Hareeba (Al Hareb {USA}), Ortensia (Testa Rossa), Sacred Star (Flying Spur) and My Gold Hope (NZ) (John's Hope) along with another six Group 1 winners.
And it is again a Group 1 galloper who is favourite to take the prize this year with Kementari (Lonhro) who is looking to bounce back from a below-best performance in the G1 Doomben 10,000 having previously won the G3 Hall Mark S. in determined fashion.
Kementari winning the G3 Hall Mark S. | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Baller (High Chaparral {Ire}) meanwhile seeks to become the first two-time winner of this race having so easily accounted for his eight rivals last year. Niccanova (Nicconi) was terrific splitting Soxagon (Rocker) and Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) in last weekend's G3 BRC Sprint whilst the honest Shooting For Gold (Shooting To Win) also has good Soxagon formlines.
Sir Warwick (Written Tycoon) is up in class but promising whilst the New Zealander Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) can improve off her local debut - faring better in the barrier draw this time. Wandabaa (Wandjina) keeps racing well whilst Letsbeglam (Snitzel) was so tough caught wide in the Listed Bright Shadow S.
Epsom Derby: UK's big day
For the first time in its long and fascinating history the G1 Epsom Derby is being run as a tribute - officially listed as the G1 Derby (In Memory Of Lester Piggott). So apt considering that the legendary jockey won the world's most prestigious Classic on a record nine occasions - and on some of the greats of the turf including Sir Ivor (USA) and Nijinsky II (Can).
This year's field of 17 contains plenty of interest for Australians, especially for Coolmore Stud whose shuttlers Churchill (Ire) and Wootton Bassett (GB) are both represented by runners; the former by Grand Alliance (Ire) and the latter by Royal Patronage (Fr) who hails from the same family as last year's G3 Balmerino S. winner Cheval Prometteur (GB) (Declaration Of War {USA}).
Meanwhile there is considerable Darley influence with three previous shutters having runners - Dubawi (Ire) the sire of Walk Of Stars (GB) from the family of Glen Eden Stud's Giant's Steps (Arg), Teofilo (Ire) the sire of Nations Pride (Ire) who shares the same grandam as Yulong's Lucky Vega (Ire) and West Wind Blows (Ire) whilst Territories (Ire) has Hoo Ya Mal (GB).
Meanwhile the stud's stalwart Exceed And Excel is the grandsire (via the dual Group 2 winner Cotai Glory {GB}) of Glory Daze (Ire) whose grandam Laoub (USA) (Red Ransom {USA}) spent time in Australia - producing the Listed winner Moulin Lady (Reset) who currently resides in Queensland and the dual city winner Raheights (Rahy {USA}) whose Group 3 winning daughter Diddums is owned by Torryburn Stud.
Frankel (GB) won his first Epsom Derby as a sire last year courtesy of Adayar (Ire) and has two runners this year | Standing at Juddmonte Farms
Oaklands Stud will be cheering on Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) from the family of their stallion Power (GB) whilst Woodside Park will be hoping that the favourite Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) will prevail - strengthening the page of their first-season sire Delaware (GB) whose sire Frankel {GB} has two Derby runners - Westover (GB) and Nahanni (GB).
As a descendant of Eight Carat's (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}) grandam Courtessa (GB) (Supreme Court {GB}), Sonny Liston (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) is another horse of interest whilst the award for the most interesting pedigree goes to Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ir}) whose sire and dam share the same grandam, Lingerie (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}).
