The Queensland Oaks, run over 2200m at Eagle Farm, is a Group 1 race for 3YO fillies held during Brisbane’s Winter Racing Carnival. The $700k staying contest usually acts as a grand final, and has been taken out by some serious fillies who have gone onto bigger and better things.
Ethereal won the Oaks in 2001 and went on to take out the Caulfield/Melbourne Cup double later that year, and Winx bagged her first of many G1’s in this race in 2015. Last year’s race was taken out by Duais who is well fancied in this year’s Caulfield/Melbourne Cup, after a stellar Autumn campaign.
As we look ahead to this year’s Oaks, Dabble currently has equal favourites; the David Vandyke trained, Gypsy Goddess, and Victorian visitor, Aravene, who are both currently $4.40 in the market. Then it’s out to $8.00 for The Roses winner Barb Raider and runner-up, Belle Savoir, is also in contention at $9.00.
With such an open market and plenty of quality formlines on paper, this year’s Queensland Oaks looks a tough ask for punters. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you and provided our horse racing tips! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2022 Queensland Oaks along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. Barb Raider (11) – $8.00
Jockey – Craig Williams 56.5kg
Trainer – Jerome Hunter
Just went under in the G1 Australasian Oaks before a solid win here last Saturday in The Roses. Has been a top class filly from day dot and has proven she can stay. Looks one of the main winning hopes providing she can back up.
2. Gypsy Goddess (22) – $4.40EF
Jockey – William Pike 56.5kg
Trainer – David Vandyke
Unbeaten in Qld before two G1 placings south of the border. Got back and ran on hard in the Bracelet last start. Step up in trip looks ideal and if Pikey can weave his magic from the horror gate, she will take a lot of holding out.
3. Glint Of Hope (14) – $14
Jockey – Daniel Moor 56.5kg
Trainer – Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
Will any of our Victorian raiders claim the Queensland Oaks on Saturday? ✍ pic.twitter.com/P3e9OGpYae
— Racing.com (@Racing) June 2, 2022
Highest rated filly in the race who was brilliant winning the G1 Australasian Oaks last start. If she can repeat something close to that performance, she’ll be right in the finish.
4. Biscayne Bay (12) – $23
Jockey – Mark Zahra 56.5kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Came wide and ran on fairly last Saturday in The Roses. Wasn’t far away in the VRC Oaks and ATC Oaks, and shouldn’t be far away in this either.
5. Mokulua (5) – SCRATCHED
Jockey – Nash Rawiller 56.5kg
Trainer – Clarry Conners
Finished midfield in the Bracelet before running a big race over 1400m here last Saturday. One would think that was used as a fitness run for this, and going off her final furlong she should be cherry ripe for this. Outside chance.
6. Honeycreeper (20) – $15
Jockey – Hugh Bowman 56.5kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Comes into this off an eight week freshen, after her ATC Oaks run where she was far from disgraced. Looked good in a recent Rosehill trial and Bowman sticks. Must be respected despite the bad barrier.
7. Gin Martini (10) – $26
Jockey – Robbie Dolan 56.5kg
Trainer – John Sargent
Rolled forward in the ATC Oaks and gave some cheek at big odds, before finishing close up in the Bracelet and The Roses recently. No doubt will make her own luck on speed, and should be fighting out the finish once again.
8. Festival Dancer (19) – $91
Jockey – Ben Thompson 56.5kg
Trainer – Matthew Smith
Yet to show her best form this prep. Loomed up last start in The Roses but was weak the last furlong. Step up in trip here looks an even bigger challenge and it’s hard to have her in the numbers.
9. Dynasties (15) – $18
Jockey – James McDonald 56.5kg
Trainer – Peter & Paul Snowden
Good win in the Bracelet two back beating Gypsy Goddess, before a lacklustre performance last start in Sydney under the big weight. Hard to be confident after that last run, but if she can repeat something similar to her win two back she’ll be thereabouts.
10. Verona (21) – $26
Jockey – Samantha Collett 56.5kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Beat a good field in the Frank Packer Plate before an honest run in the Rough Habit here at Eagle Farm. Has to overcome the wide gate but is good enough to figure in the finish at odds.
The Doomben Roses (first run 1996) is an often used prep race for the Queensland Oaks.
23 winners of The Roses have gone on to contest the Oaks, 3 have completed the double:
2001-ETHEREAL
2011-SCARLETT LADY
2018-YOUNGSTAR
5 have run second with 2 finishing third (13 unplaced)— Form Focus (@FormFocusHQ) June 1, 2022
11. Belle Savoir (17) – $9.00
Jockey – Ryan Maloney 56.5kg
Trainer – Nick Ryan
Smart filly who has continued to show up when the bar is raised. Got to the line well last Saturday in The Roses suggesting the extra 100m shouldn’t worry her. Will need some luck from the gate. If she gets it she can win.
12. Aravene (6) – $4.40EF
Jockey – Brett Prebble 56.5kg
Trainer – Caroline Jennings
Impressive winner of her last two starts albeit in weaker company. The trip should be no issue judging off her latest win and she draws a nice gate here. Looks good enough to measure up, but has to take on a quality G1 field now and looks a bit skinny in the market.
13. Charm Spirit (23) – SCRATCHED
Jockey – Jim Byrne 56.5kg
Trainer – Gary Portelli
N/A.
14. Smirk (16) – $23
Jockey – Tommy Berry 56.5kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Finished on the heels of the winner in the Bracelet and was narrowly beaten last Saturday in The Roses. Looks a real staying filly who should appreciate the added journey and can win if she gets an economical run.
15. Teranga (7) – $41
Jockey – Kerrin McEvoy 56.5kg
Trainer – Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted
Lightly raced filly who was good in the Princess Stakes last start. Goes from a mile to 2200m here but comes from an astute yard. She’ll be looking to emulate her mother who won this race in 2014, but for mine she looks like a better place hope.
16. Le Villi (2) – $19
Jockey – Tim Clark 56.5kg
Trainer – Kris Lees
Former Kiwi filly who wasn’t disgraced in the ATC Oaks before hitting the line well last Saturday in The Roses. Should get a soft run from the low draw and will be strong to the line. Can win.
It’s Queensland Oaks day on Saturday.@BrisRacingClub @7horseracing pic.twitter.com/oO5uBghbBz
— ANZ Bloodstock (@anz_news) June 1, 2022
17. Rosie Impact (13) – $126
Jockey – James Orman 56.5kg
Trainer – Richard & Will Freedman
Plain effort at Newcastle before running on ok behind Aravene last start when ridden cold. Probably looks a bit outclassed in this.
18. Nom De Plume (1) – $126
Jockey – Craig Grylls 56.5kg
Trainer – Robbie Patterson
Won well at the Sunshine Coast on the poly before an even effort in The Roses last Saturday. Don’t think she can win but looks like a better chance than the price suggests.
19e. Cupid’s Kiss (8) – $126
Jockey – Jim Byrne 56.5kg
Trainer – Cassandra Stummer
Inverell C1 to Eagle Farm G1. Not here.
20e. Nyota (9) – $91
Jockey – Nash Rawiller 56.5kg
Trainer – John Sargent
Led all the way and made it back to back wins last start at Hawkesbury over 2100m. Big step up in grade here but comes from a stable well known for training stayers. Not the worst.
21e. Pioneer Lass (3) – SCRATCHED
Jockey – Kyle Wilson-Taylor (a) 56.5kg
Trainer – Matthew Smith
Yet to break her maiden but has been competitive in all six starts to date. Don’t think she will be posting career win number one in this if she is to gain a start.
22e. Chayse ‘N’ Tanya (18) – SCRATCHED
Jockey – N/A 56.5kg
Trainer – Les Kelly
Finally got her maiden out of the way last start in a four horse field at the Sunshine Coast. Looks to have staying potential but may be better suited in something easier.
23e. Savagal (4) – SCRATCHED
Jockey – N/A 56.5kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Ran a good race in the Princess Stakes before a couple of mediocre efforts her past two. Has good ability and looked smart early doors but on current form couldn’t have her in the numbers.
Final Word
This year’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks brings together a quality lineup of fillies from far and wide. Connections of many favoured runners were left unimpressed following Tuesday’s barrier draw, but the cards have been dealt and it’s time to find the winner.
“It’s going to be a strong field.”
Glint Of Hope’s run in the Queensland Oaks & Sierra Sue’s retirement are on the agenda with Trent Busuttin 👀
@busuttin pic.twitter.com/4e9jVM2igi— Racing.com (@Racing) May 31, 2022
Liked the way Le Villi hit the line last Saturday in The Roses. She wasn’t far away prior to that in the ATC Oaks at Randwick. She should get a lovely smother from the low draw and will be saved for one crack at them.
Hard to knock Gypsy Goddess who is yet to miss a place in her 8 start career. She was good in both the Vinery Stud Stakes and ATC Oaks in Sydney, before running on gamely in the Bracelet last start. She’ll need some luck from the gate, but is a deserved equal favourite in this.
Barb Raider and Belle Savoir deserve respect after quinellaing The Roses here last Saturday, and Mokulua looks overs after his surging finish in the Fred Best, and will appreciate the step up in trip.
A number of other fillies should race well including the last start G1 winner, Glint of Hope, Biscayne Bay, Godolphin filly, Honeycreeper, front runner, Gin Martini, and the Chris Waller trained, Smirk. If you have any of them circled in the race guide I wouldn’t be talking you out of backing them.
If there is one I’m happy to go around, it’s the Caroline Jennings trained, Aravene. She will need to improve again if she’s to make this win three in a row, and she’s certainly short enough in the market.
Queensland Oaks Tip
16. Le Villi – Each way ($19.00/$5.50)
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*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
