Gold Coast trained filly Winning Ways carried the famous red, white and blue colours of the recently deceased Paul Makin to victory in the 2019 Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben today.
Damien Oliver, above, was on the beaten favourite Princess Jenni in the 2019 Queensland Oaks at Doomben. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Makin’s best horse to race was the multiple Group 1 winner and international star and stallion Starcraft and he was able to look down and see his new star Winning Ways claimed today’s Fillies’ Classic.
“He will be watching it, don’t worry about that,” winning trained Garry Newham said.
“I told him I would win the Oaks six months ago. He watched The Roses and he said I think you are right.”
“She was the best finishing horse in the race.”
Local jockey Matt McGillivray claimed his first Group 1 win in the Queensland Oaks and had Winning Ways into the clear at the top of the straight for the run home.
“He is a good rider, Matt,” Newham said.
“He will be leading Brisbane rider here in a couple of years.”
Newham will now give Winning Ways a well deserved break before preparing her for the 2019 Spring Carnival with the Group 1 $5.15m Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 19 high up on the agenda.
“Very tempting. She will get over 2400m and further and you will see how good she is,” Newham said,
“She is going to the paddock and she is going to have a good spell, she has only had three weeks off in twelve months. Will have a good spell and I will sit down and plan out a map for her then.”
McGillivray wound Winning Ways ($21) up on the point of the turn and she went to the line strongly to defeat the Garnett Taylor trained Dawson Diva ($151) with Chris Waller’s Lady Cuvee ($151) in third place.
McGillivray settled Winning Ways in the second half of the field from an awkward barrier but gave her a trouble free run throughout to get a Winter Carnival Group 1 win for the locals.
Damien Oliver had the short priced favourite Princess Jenni ($2.60) racing just behind the leaders but the filly looked under pressure once the field was facing the judge and faded in the run to the finish sixth.
Winning Ways was a winner two starts back in the Listed $125,000 Johnnie Walker Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 4 and then put in a good Queensland Oaks trial when a close up eighth in the Group 2 $200,000 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben a fortnight ago.
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