Trainer Chris Waller hasn’t ruled out running Youngstar in the 2018 Queensland Derby after the filly scored a narrow win in last Saturday’s Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben.
Trainer Chris Waller, above, saddled up Youngstar to win the 2018 Queensland Oaks at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Waller won the 2016 Queensland Oaks with his super star Winx in 2015 while Egg Tart won last year’s version to make it three Queensland Oaks victories for the stable from the last four years.
The Group 1 $600,000 Channel Seven Queensland Derby (2200m) will be run at Doomben on June 9 and Waller said the two weeks break in between the Oaks and the Derby would open up the door for Youngstar taking on the colts and geldings.
“It’s a good idea having it two weeks apart. One week for fillies is a bit hard. We weren’t tempted to back Winx up but it’s something to think about,” Waller said.
The running of the Queensland Oaks was delayed for almost two hours while track staff moved the rail out 2m in the back straight after earlier concerns that the surface was becoming unsafe after a shower of rain sweep across the track that had been taking a huge workload since the closure of Eagle Farm because of track renovations.
Waller was quick to praise the efforts of the ground staff after Youngstar ($3.70 favourite) nosed out her stablemate Another Dollar ($6.50) and the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra trained Sheezdashing ($8) who was another nose back in third spot.
“Well done to everybody, no one panicked and we’ve got through safely after unforeseen circumstances earlier in the day,” Waller said.
“The track staff worked tirelessly and very quickly to move the rail out otherwise we wouldn’t have had the Oaks.”
Youngstar is marked as a $12 chance for the Queensland Derby at Ladbrokes.com.au who have the John O’Shea trained Live And Free as the $4.50 favourite just ahead of Dark Dream and Lucky For All at $5.50.
Early betting for the 2018 Queensland Derby at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.50 Live And Free, $5.50 Dark Dream, Lucky For All, $6 Heavenly Thought, $12 Mahamedeis, Youngstar, Han Xin, $21 Merovee, So You Win, $26 Main Stage, Ombudsman, Tangled, $34 Obsessive, Terra Sancta, $41 or better the rest.
The post 2018 Queensland Derby a possibility for Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au.