Promising filly Etana will now head to the 2019 Queensland Oaks in a fortnight after winning the Group 2 $200,000 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben today.
Jockey Johnny Allen, above, was aboard Etana for her win in The Roses at Doomben. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace wrapped up a late Doomben double after taking out the feature race on the card forty minutes earlier with Kenedna winning the Group 1 $700,000 Doomben Cup (2000m).
Maher and Eustace will now chase another Brisbane Winter Carnival Group 1 race with Etana in the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben in a fortnight.
Irish jockey Johnny Allen teamed up the Maher and Eustace for both wins today and had Etana travelling like a winner a long way from home.
After jumping from barrier two in the sixteen horse field, Allen settled Etana in fifth and sixth position on the fence just off the pace and was then able to secure a run in between horses in the straight.
Etana ($3.90) was able to find the front at the 50m mark and hold off the late challenge of the Kris Lees trained Aliferous ($12) with Welsh Legend ($13) running on for third.
The Mark Newnham trained Scarlet Dream was sent out the $3.30 favourite and after settling near the tail of the field, made up some ground in the straight without threatening to finish seventh, two and a half lengths from the winner.
Maher said that Etana has really enjoyed the warmer Queensland weather and recovered well from her previous start when third on a heavy track in the Listed $125,000 Johnnie Walker Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) at the Gold Coast a fortnight ago.
“We have just given her a bit of time in between runs and set her for this and we weren’t quite sure whether she would stay but she is a beautiful clean winded filly,” Maher said.
“We sent her up to Ballarat at the new stable and it is just a bit more room in that country environment and she just really thrived.
“She had come up here and really enjoyed the warmer weather. She was a great run last start on the wet track at the Gold Coast and she has backed it up here today.”
