Doomben racecourse again holds centre stage in Queensland this Saturday when it stages the Queensland Oaks for the first time, as Eagle Farm continues to be rebuilt.
The Oaks will be run over 2200m – and whilst it might not seem the stamina test it could have been over 2400m at the more spacious Eagle Farm track – it really does look like being one of the most competitive Queensland Oaks in recent memory.
Just to add a bit more spice to the contest, two of the top three in the market, Winx and Ballet Suite, are under the care of leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller, whilst the Queen of Sydney, Gai Waterhouse, has the vastly improved Bohemian Lily engaged.
That filly splits the other pair in betting as the early second favourite.
Bohemian Lily probably holds the key to the race after an emphatic win in the Doomben Roses last week. She led all the way, unlike at her previous start where a muddling pace apparently didn’t suit her.
Her overall time in ‘The Roses’ was better than the Colts and Geldings in the Grand Prix, and significantly faster than the older horses in a Group 3 race at the same distance.
Given how fast she ran the first half of the race she was entitled to tire late, but she held a four length margin quite comfortably to the line.
I say she may hold the key to this race because she is the most likely to test the stamina of every other filly by doing exactly as she did last week. She now faces better quality opposition, that will either chase her down or capitulate in the quest of having to do so.
On breeding alone, perhaps this filly is also going to be the testing material in the race. She is a full sister to Shamrocker, who ran second in the 2010 VRC Oaks, and subsequent to that went one better in winning the AJC Derby against the males in 2011.
She is also a half sister to 2014 NZ oaks placed Rock Diva, who went on to run gallant fourth placings in this race, and the QTC Derby of 2014, both times inconvenienced by wide barriers.
Subsequently this year she has managed to win the Auckland Cup over 3200m, coming with a spectacular late finishing burst from near last on the turn.
These three close female relatives are all daughters of a Mare named Bohemian Blues, who won only one race in her career at the sprint distance of 1200m.
Even her mother Winter’s Tale failed to win beyond 1600. Heaven knows how she has managed to foal three high quality three year old fillies, all Group class winners of races at distances ranging from 2000m-3200m. It’s an astounding achievement by this broodmare.
Ironically neither Shamrocker or Rock Diva were able to win an Oaks from two attempts a piece, but Bohemian Lily has every chance to become the first of the trio to do so on Saturday.
The dictionary meaning of ‘To Gild The Lily’ is ‘to cover with gold’. First place to Bohemian Lily here would exemplify that for her owners and for Gai.
And surely the stable and jockey won’t die wondering given she has drawn barrier 20. No option other than to fly the gates, find the lead, and test the stamina mettle of her quality rivals.
That factor alone should make the 2015 QTC Oaks, the key fillies race of the Channel Seven Brisbane Racing Carnival, compulsory viewing!
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