The scratching of Bohemian Lily from the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Casino & Hotel Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben on Saturday has deprived the race of a ready made pacemaker.
Bohemian Lily has been scratched from the Queensland Oaks at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Bohemian Lily threw down the gauntlet to Queensland Oaks favourite Winx with a sensational all the way win in the Group 2 $175,000 URBIS The Roses (2020m) at Doomben last weekend but trainer Gai Waterhouse was forced to withdraw her after she sustained a minor leg injury today.
“She sustained a cut to her left elbow this morning and even though it won’t be life threatening and she’ll be over it in a couple of weeks, she certainly couldn’t run on Saturday,” trainer Gai Waterhouse told AAP.
Sydney’s premiership trainer Chris Waller thought that the pace that Bohemian Lily was going to generate would suit his back maker Winx and with her withdrawal there might not be that same intensity up front.
“I saw it being a really tough staying test with Bohemian Lily in the race, and I actually thought it might suit Winx with the field spreading out,” Waller said.
“It might take a lot of the speed out of the race, but you can’t over analyse too much.”
But Winx looks to be the class runner in the sixteen horses field following her second to Gust Of Wind in the Group 1 $1m Seven News Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 11 and her stunning last to first win in the Group 3 $125,000 XXXX Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast a fortnight ago.
Hugh Bowman takes over from Larry Cassidy on Winx and looks like jumping from barrier ten if the rest of the emergencies don’t gain a start.
Waller will also saddle up Ballet Suite who is well in the betting after winning the Listed $100,000 City Property Services Princess Stakes (2000m) at Doomben on May 9.
First emergency Imperial Lass is now in the field with the Blake Shinn, who was to ride Bohemian Lily, to ride the Peter Moody trained filly.
Queensland Oaks market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.40 Winx, $7 Sebrina, $9 Ballet Suite, $10 Ungrateful Ellen, $14 , Zarzali, $18 Swift Lady, $19 Platinum Witness, $21 Rustic Melody, Exquisite Jewel, $31 Champion Stage, Col ‘N’ Lil, $34 Anaphora, Heavens Above, $41 Yulong Baby, Imperial Lass, $61 Shandaara, $67 Whatalovelyday, $81 No Tricks, $151 Mine With Lime, $201 Stewball.
