The wide open spaces of Eagle Farm will suit three year old filly Scarlet Dream better when she lines up against the colts and geldings in the 2019 Group 1 $600,000 Channel 7 Queensland Derby (2400m) on Saturday.
Nobu, above, is the favourite for the 2019 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm. Photo by Steve Hart.
Trainer Mark Newnham deliberately bypassed the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben last Saturday after Scarlet Dream didn’t handle the tighter Doomben circuit when seventh in the Group 2 $200,000 The Roses (2000m) a fortnight earlier and he feels that the filly will be more comfortable on the revamped Eagle Farm track.
“I am comfortable in my decision to miss the Oaks and wait a week for this Saturday’s Derby,” Newnham told AAP.
“I felt she didn’t handle the smaller Doomben track when unplaced in The Roses.”
“A big track and 2400 metres at Eagle Farm suits her perfectly and she is doing well.
“I came up early to watch her work on Saturday and I will be back for her final work-out on Tuesday.”
Scarlet Dream has already shown some good staying potential with a handy second to Verry Elleegant in the Group 1 $1m Heineken 3 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 13.
Scarlet Dream is well fancied in 2019 Stradbroke Handicap betting with Ladbrokes.com.au marking her on the second line of betting at $6 alongside of the Phillip Stokes trained Mr Quickie behind the $4.20 favourite Nobu.
The Chris Waller trained Nobu earned the top spot in the betting following two wins in Sydney in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m) on the Kensington Track and in a BenchMark 74 Handicap over 2000m on the main Randwick track.
Early betting for the 2019 Stradbroke Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.20 Nobu, $6 Mr Quickie, Scarlet Dream, $9 Re Edit, $10 Fun Fact, $12 Carif, $15 Declares War, Savvy Oak, $17 Aliferous, Bobby Dee, Lord Arthur, Stars Of Carrum, $21 Home Made, Vow And Declare, $31 A Man To Match, Duchess Of Lennox, Mahi’s Angel, Trusty Lad, $34 or better the rest.
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