Group 1 racing continues at Eagle Farm this weekend as the staying fillies headline a truly fantastic day of racing.
Our full 2022 QLD Oaks Day Preview can be viewed below.
Preview brought to you by Ladbrokes. Learn more about Ladbrokes HERE.
Race 1 – Benchmark 85 Handicap (1800m)
The Tony Gollan trained Youngblood has been ticking along nicely throughout this prep and racing consistently.
The five year old gelding has been placed in 19 of his 29 career race starts and is yet to miss a place from five career runs over 1800m.
He beat home Tavion Prince in the Gold Coast Cup last start and meets that horse better at the weights.
Race 2 – Class 6 Handicap (1400m)
The Gollan stable has a good chance at winning the first two races and they have placed Palladas really well in this particular race.
It usually takes this four year old gelding a couple of starts to find his best form and both runs this prep so far have been full of merit.
The firmer track and gun draw are both huge positives and he looks ready to win in my opinion.
Race 3 – Listed The Phoenix (1500m)
Political Debate had a huge run in the Champagne Classic behind Swiss Exile, running past the winner 50m after the post.
The son of So You Think is out of a Zabeel mare so the sharp step up in distance is only a benefit to his chances and he has drawn perfectly in barrier three with James McDonald on top.
Sharp ‘N’ Smart won a Listed race in New Zealand last time out when he rocketed home from well back over 1600m.
They beat home the third horse by a further four lengths in that race and he has been gelded since that win.
Race 4 – Bill Carter Stakes
I loved the way Midnight In Toyko knuckled down to the task when she was asked for a supreme effort late in the Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial on the Gold Coast last start.
She was only narrowly denied in that event but she beat home the very smart Sheeza Belter who then came out and won the Sires’ Produce at Eagle Farm.
Race 5 – Listed Lightning Handicap (1000m)
The Chris Munce trained Boomova is a progressive type of mare who is putting together a fantastic racing resume having placed in 11 of her 14 career race starts now.
She has won her first two starts so far this prep including at class 6 at Eagle Farm last start by 4.5 lengths and she can make the step up in grade in this event.
Niedorp is a better mare than these odds are suggesting and she has placed in all three of her starts at this track and distance.
A recent trial win suggests she is ready to fire first up which she usually does (8: 3-2-2)
Race 6 – Magic Millions National Classic (1600m)
This is a race packed full of very even race mares and you could throw a blanket over the lot of them.
Never Talk is a mare that is capable of producing a rating good enough to be competitive in this race and she represents good value at the double figure odds for the Magic Millions National Classic.
She was beaten half a length in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Crown and followed that up with a third in the Dark Jewel at Scone.
Race 7 – Listed Spear Chief Handicap (1500m)
Kubrick won three of his last four starts during his previous campaign and his first up run in The Archer this time out in Rockhampton was full of merit.
He finished within two lengths of the winner that day and the form out of that race has been franked with Apache Chase winning the Kingsford-Smith Cup last weekend.
This is a race that lacks a whole heap of depth and although he has the top weight to carry, he represents good value.
Race 8 – Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m)
Say what you will about Kementari but the seven year old has eight wins to his name and $2.6 million in prize money ahead of the Moreton Cup.
He was excellent when winning first up at Group 3 level in Sydney when savaging the line late to beat Count De Rupee and Big Parade.
He didn’t handle the heavy track in the Doomben 10,000 but will be better suited back on top of the ground and he also drops 1.5 kgs for that effort.
Wandabaa has been an incredibly consistent performer over her career and she has been beaten by less then a length at Group 3 level in her past couple of starts.
I don’t want to be losing if she wins.
Race 9 – Group 1 QLD Oaks (2200m)
A lot of these staying fillies come through the same form lines and there isn’t much between a bunch of them in my opinion.
Gin Martini is having her 10th start this campaign but she is thriving at the moment.
She was not beaten far in the Gold Coast Bracelet or The Roses and if she can control the tempo in front, and run a strong 2400m she would not surprise if she ran a big race at huge odds.
Smirk is another progressive filly who was not beaten far in those two races and she has missed a placed just once in six career starts.
It is unknown whether she will run a strong 2200m and she has an awkward draw in this year’s Queensland Oaks, but is well over the odds at $23.
Race 10 – Listed QLD Day Stakes (1200m)
Athelric earned a trip to Queensland off the back of three wins in a row in NSW over the short courses.
The son of Exceed And Excel is a progressive type of horse and although this is both a step up in distance and grade, he can finish our day on a winning note.