Ambience draws horror barrier in 2016 Queensland Oaks

One time favourite Ambience has been handed a horror barrier for the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Casino & Hotel Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Ambience has drawn horror gate in the Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm. Photo by Steve Hart.

Ambience has drawn horror gate in the Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm. Photo by Steve Hart.

Ambience came up with gate twenty-one in the original draw of eighteen plus four emergencies and at best will jump from gate seventeen when the field is brought back to eighteen starters at scratching time on Saturday morning.

The John O’Shea trained filly’s price has now drifted to $11 with Ladbrokes.com.au who have the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Falkenberg s the new $6.50 favourite.

Ambience has already been placed in two Oaks and can improve on her last start twelfth to Kebede in the Group 2 $175,000 Magic Millions The Roses (2000m) at Doomben on May 21.

“Forget she went around at Doomben last start, nothing went right for her. She has done everything right since and she is going to be hard to beat in a very open race,’’ O’Shea told The Courier-Mail.

James McDonald will ride Ambience again in the Queensland Oaks after the pair combined to win the Group 2 $300,000 Mumm Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival prior to running third to Jameka in the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington five days later.

Ambience then continued to show her staying ability when second to Sofia Rosa in the Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on the second day of ‘The Championships’ on April 9.

The Bjorn Baker trained Imposing Lass has held her spot near the top of the market order after drawing barrier ten and is on the second line of betting at $7.50 with Romantic Maid ahead of the Clary Conners trained Dawnie Perfect $8.

Regular rider Jason Collett is aboard Imposing Lass again and has an excellent chance to win his first Group 1 on Saturday.

Kiwi filly Provocative was out of luck in the final make up of the Queensland Oaks field, and as well as drawing barrier twenty, was installed as the first emergency and will only gain a start if one for the eighteen fillies ahead of her in the field is scratched.

Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller will saddle up two fillies in the Queensland Oaks, Sebring Sally ($20) who has drawn barrier nineteen with Hugh Bowman to ride and Mount Omei ($26) with Chris Symons getting the nod.

The father – son training partnership of Peter and Paul Snowden have accepted with three fillies, Self Esteem ($13), Falkenberg ($6.50) and Tap This ($20).

Falkenberg is the most fancied of the trio after drawing barrier three with Blake Shinn to ride.

Self Esteem with Tim Clark booked to ride has also drawn well at four while Tap This has drawn worse than midfield at thirteen with Christian Reith taking the reins.

Queensland Oaks market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $6.50 Falkenberg, $7.50 Imposing Lass, Romantic Maid, $8 Dawnie Perfect, $10 Provocative, $11 Kebede, Ambience, $13 Chabaud, Self Esteem, $14 Tavi Bay, $18 Dulverton, $20 Tap This, Sebring Sally, $26 Zasorceress, Mount Omei, $31 Alaskan Rose, $41 Beluga Blue, Queens Of Wands, Sahara Siren, $51 Ashlee Marie, Zafiki, $81 Meru.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.