Gypsy Goddess is out wide but tipped to overcome the alley and claim the Group 1 $700,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m) in Brisbane this weekend.
Australasian Oaks winner Glint Of Hope returns in the 2022 Queensland Oaks this weekend chasing the interstate Group 1 double. Photo: Jenny Barnes.
Eagle Farm Racecourse hosts yet another Group 1 event on Saturday, this time in the form of the three-year-old fillies facing off in the Oaks.
A capacity field is engaged and, of the smart young stayers, it is the David Vandyke-trained Gypsy Goddess from the Sunshine Coast the bookies are tipping to return to winning form.
She will jump from the outside alley with the withdrawal of Charity Spirit from the Queensland Oaks field with jockey William Pike retaining the ride.
Pike has partnered the Tarzino filly for her past three assignments producing a trio of top three runs, two of which were in elite company.
She was third to Fangirl at Newcastle in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (1850m), runner-up behind El Patroness on a bottomless Randwick track for the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m), and then good last start in easier company when a half-length second in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m).
Back up in grade here, she has work to do from the alley, but on a firmer track she’s tipped to win and sits top of the latest Queensland Oaks markets at $4.20 through Ladbrokes.com.au.
Following closely at Queensland Oaks odds of $4.50 is the untapped Caroline Jennings-trained Aravene, the Victorian visitor to be ridden by Brett Prebble from a nice barrier six draw.
A winner of her last two assignments, the up-and-coming daughter of Fastnet Rock won over 2000m by a runaway three lengths at Rosehill on May 21, and looks set to storm home again here getting out to 2200m.
Despite the size of the field, only two other fillies are under double-figures in Queensland Oaks betting this winter with Barb Raider the market mover into $8, and Belle Savoir also well-backed early into $9.
The Jerome Hunter-trained Barb Raider is drawn gate 11 and has Craig Williams aboard again following the hoop’s 10/10 ride last Saturday to get her home first in the Group 2 The Roses (2100m).
With The Roses moved a week later due to the wet weather in Brisbane, there’s only seven days between runs for Barb Raider who now attempts the double, but she’s flying and deserves to be taken seriously again here.
The run prior to her The Roses win at Eagle Farm saw the talented daughter of Rebel Raider finish runner-up in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) in Adelaide, and she looks a genuine hope of securing her own Group 1 trophy on Saturday.
After opening at $12 in betting, Nick Ryan’s Not A Single Doubt filly Belle Savoir is also firming fast as she too looks to frank this year’s The Roses form.
Up in grade last weekend, she was excellent finishing just a head back second in the traditional Queensland Oaks lead-up, but is wide here in barrier 17.
The other best in betting representing the potential value is the Australasian Oaks winner Glint Of Hope.
Cranbourne-based trainers Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young enjoyed a stellar Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival, and now turn their attention to one of the last Group 1s of winter.
Their Japanese-bred Deep Impact filly Glint Of Hope was good up in grade posting a narrow upset over Barb Raider in the Australasian Oaks on April 30, and she’ll race for the first time since in Queensland this weekend.
Daniel Moor retains the ride chasing the interstate Oaks double, and the pair is drawn barrier 14 paying $14.
The Queensland Oaks 2022 is scheduled as the penultimate event on Saturday’s 10-race Eagle Farm card, due to jump at 3:53pm (AEST).
