Queensland Oaks Tips & Betting Preview

The Queensland Oaks is the premier staying race for fillies during the Brisbane winter carnival in Australia. The AUD$500,000 Group 1 has attracted a full field of 18 runners and it looks a wide-open affair with the current favourite quoted at 11/2.

There has been some concern about the weather bomb that is set to hit Eagle Farm racetrack on Saturday. They are expecting up to 80-100mm of rain and high winds to hit around mid-day which could put the entire Eagle Farm card at risk, but for now we will provides selections based on a wet track.

There are a host of top winning chances in the Oaks and also some handy place chances for punters playing it a little safer. The big Australian races rarely get maximum fields so punters should enjoy the racing action overnight.

Queensland Oaks updated market and tips:

The market below is subject to change*

Betting market:

1. Ambience – 9/1
2. Chabaud – 12/1
3. Kebede – 9/1
4. Imposing Lass – 7/1
5. NR
6. Sebring Sally – 15/1
7. Self Esteem – 13/1
8. Alaskan Rose – 17/1
9. Queen Of Wands – 50/1
10. Dawnie Perfect – 15/2
11. Ashlee Marie – 50/1
12. Falkenberg – 11/2
13. Tap This – 15/1
14. Tavi Bay – 15/1
15. Romantic Maid – 13/2
16. Dulverton – 20/1
17. Zasorceress – 25/1
18. Mount Omei – 30/1
19. Provocative – 7/1
20. Sahara Siren – 30/1
21. Meru – 80/1
22. Zafiki – 60/1

Current favourite Falkenberg was desperately unlucky in the main lead-in race last start when it missed the jump badly before running into a stack of trouble in the home straight. The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained filly had good form prior and although all eight career starts have come on dry tracks, it should be able to handle the sting out of the track.

It opened as high as 15/2 earlier in the week and it has been met with good tote support. It should prove tough to beat and it won’t find any trouble from barrier three with top jockey Blake Shinn in the saddle.

Kebede was the winner of The Roses last start which featured the majority of this Oaks field. The daughter of Redoute’s Choice is bred to run the 2400m as it indicated by storming home to win at Doomben on May 21. The four-time winner has flown under the radar throughout its preparation and bookmakers aren’t giving it much respect again at 9/1.

Jockey Jim Byrne is a local rider which knows Eagle Farm inside out and we wouldn’t be surprised to see it feature in the placings.

Imposing Lass is on the second line of betting at 7/1. It is trained by Bjorn Baker who scored his first Group 1 success in Australia just one week ago. His stable is red-hot and this filly was good enough to win three consecutive races earlier this preparation. It finished third in The Roses last start after being taken on in front and it was given no peace throughout.

We expect it to roll forward from barrier nine and give a good kick in the straight.

Free Tip: Imposing Lass to win at 7/1

There is also some New Zealand interest in the race with two runners entered. Roger James lines up last start winner Romantic Maid which has been very well backed into 13/2 and it’s bred to handle the possible wet conditions. The daughter of High Chaparral won two from three starts in New Zealand before travelling to compete in Australia.

It finished third in its Australian debut at Rosehill before putting away a tough field last start. New Zealand-trained runners have an excellent record during the Brisbane winter carnival and Romantic Maid looks a top win and place chance.

The second runner is Provocative which makes the field due to the non-runner of Beluga Blue. The Tony Pike-trained filly won by 2.3 lengths in an easy race last start, but this is a much harder race. It opened as a 11/1 chance, but heavy support has come all week and it’s now into 7/1. It has the ability to sit on the pace or make a sustained run home, which has swayed punters into its corner.

The Kiwi runners hold a good position in this field and they should both run well.

We want to highlight two other runners which loom as top place bet chances. Self Esteem (13/1) ran on stoutly last time out and it’s another which has slipped under the bookmakers’ radar. The Snowden-trained filly has plenty of fitness under its belt which will be key in the testing conditions over this distance.

Dawnie Perfect has a rather poor formline, but this has been its target all season and it was last seen running on very well in The Roses. Drawing wide in barrier 21 won’t matter over this distance and it will drop to the back before trying to sustain a run around the outside. It has competed at the top level throughout the majority of its career and a top three finish at 2/1 for the place is a good bet.

Free Tip: Dawnie Perfect to place at 2/1

You can find our Saturday Australian Racing Tips here!