Trainer Chris Waller has shrugged off the fact that Dawn Wall hasn’t raced for a month and said the filly is extremely fit heading into Saturday’s Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben.
Hugh Bowman, above, rides Dawn Wall in the Queensland Oaks at Doomben. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
Dawn Wall with Hugh Bowman in the saddle was most impressive in winning the Listed $125,000 Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 6 but then missed a run when she had to be scratched from the Group 2 $175,000 The Magic Millions Roses (2000m) at Doomben on May 20 after developing an elevated temperate.
Dawn Wall has fully recovered and Waller is confident that the minor setback hasn’t affected her preparation for the Queensland Oaks.
“She has done very well. Just a precautionary exercise, you don’t put them under pressure when you do get a slight reading that is not one hundred per cent so we took the precaution of backing off,” Waller told racing.com.
“She bounced back within a couple of days.”
Dawn Wall has pleased Waller and race day jockey Hugh Bowman in her recent track work and will line up in tip top condition on Saturday.
“She had a gallop last Thursday, she had an exhibition gallop at the races on Saturday at Eagle Farm and Hugh Bowman was aboard and really happy with her,” Waller said.
“And again this morning (Tuesday) at the Gold Coast she had a good solid gallop.”
“She is certainly up where her fitness levels need to be.”
“It is not as if we missed a run with her, she has been up for a long time, basically it is her first racing prep so she is going into the Oaks four weeks in between runs as a very fit race horse.”
Bowman will have to be at his brilliant best in the run done the straight the first time as he looks to slot into a nice trail after Dawn Wall drew barrier sixteen in the original barrier draw but will jump from fifteen in the final sixteen horse field if the third emergency Miabla (barrier 4) fails to gain a start.
Dawn Wall is listed at $7.50 at Ladbrokes.com.au and is one of seven fillies Waller will saddle up in the Queensland Oaks, the others are Egg Tart ($3.30 favourite), Oklahoma Girl ($9), Invincibella ($26), Cross Stitch ($26), Baysa ($26) and Kirini ($51).
