Wednesday’s barrier draw will determine which filly becomes Chris Waller’s top pick in Saturday’s Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben.
Trainer Chris Waller, above, will have multiple runners in the 2018 Queensland Oaks at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Waller has eight fillies listed among the twenty-one first acceptances for the Queensland Oaks with Youngstar and Another Dollar leading the charge after finishing first and second in the Group 2 $175,000 Magic Millions The Roses (2000m) at Doomben on May 12.
Youngstar had the better of her stablemate Another Dollar by a length on the line but Waller said that the second placed filly had been hampered by wide barriers in her recent outings which also includes The Roses.
Another Dollar jumped from barrier twelve in The Roses while Youngstar came out of gate four in the sixteen horse field and Waller said with a good barrier and better luck the second placed filly could have reversed the finishing order.
“She’s (Another Dollar) had no luck at all,” Waller told The Courier-Mail.
“Barrier draws have cruelled her. If she can get a gate, she will be in the race for sure.
“Youngstar has won three in a row and winning with a bit of arrogance.
“To go from a provincial winner to Group 2 winner in one start takes a lot of talent, so I’d have a slight leaning to Youngstar, providing they both draw next to each other, but Another Dollar will keep her honest.”
Waller is hoping for a decent barrier draw for all of his fillies in the weekend’s Queensland Oaks.
Waller is considering putting the blinkers on Youngstar in the Queensland Oaks after The Roses winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy told the master trainer that he felt the head gear might add something to the High Chaparral filly’s performance.
“Kerrin (McEvoy) thought there was a little bit more there (after winning the Roses on her),” Waller said
“We put them on in the gallop (on Saturday) but the feedback I got was that she was a bit keen in them. Kerrin is going to go up and ride her and we will make a final decision then.”
Waller’s other fillies that could be in Queensland Oaks contention are Savacool, Impulsive, Miss Shanti, Saint Katarina, Via Veneto and Twilighter.
Youngstar scored a hat trick of wins with her victory in The Roses and has been installed as the $2.70 Queensland Oaks favourite in pre-post betting at Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of Another Dollar at $4.60.
The final field for the 2018 Queensland Oaks will be released on Wednesday morning, May 23.
Early betting for the 2018 Queensland Oaks at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.70 Youngstar, $4.60 Another Dollar, $7 Aloisia, $8.50 Savacool, $11 Coral Coast, Sheezdashing, $13 Terra Sancta, $15 Play That Song, $17 Tinkermosa, $21 Highway, $34 Miss Shanti, Twilighter, $51 She’s Reliable, $61 Impulsive, Saint Katarina, $81 Protest, $101 Via Veneto, $251 Delaney’s Desire, She Salutes.
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