Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar has been given the green light to take on the colts and geldings in the 2018 Group 1 $600,000 Channel Seven Queensland Derby (2200m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Live And Free, above, is the equal favourite for the 2018 Queensland Derby at Doomben. Photo by Steve Hart.
Trainer Chris Waller had been weighing up his options with Youngstar and her stablemate Another Dollar after the fillies finished first and second in the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben on May 26.
Waller released a statement this morning via twitter that confirmed Youngstar would go around in the Queensland Derby while Another Dollar would be spelled before being prepared for a 2018 Spring Carnival campaign that could feature a start in the Group 1 $1m Epsom (1600m) at Randwick.
“Youngstar has pulled up well following her win the Group One Queensland Oaks and the decision has been made to push on to Group One Queensland Derby,” Waller said in a statement.
“We will continue to monitor her progress up until Saturday morning as I have been mindful of not overtaxing her, however I was very happy with her gallop this morning and she continues to handle her time in Queensland exceptionally well.”
“The decision has been made to spell Another Dollar and she will not take part in the Queensland Derby to be run this Saturday at Doomben.”
“She has gone through her narrow defeat in the Queensland Oaks without any issues, however I feel it would be best to give her a break now and prepare her for the Spring with a likely tilt towards the Epsom Handicap.”
Waller will have several runners in the Queensland Derby and as well as Youngstar, Tangled, Almighty Crown, Merovee, Augustus and Ombudsman were also among the first acceptances for Blue Riband Classic.
The final field for the 2018 Queensland Derby will be released on Wednesday, June 6.
Youngster will be striving to become the first filly to win the Queensland Derby since Dariana beat the boys in 2010 and the first filly to claim the Queensland Oaks-Derby double since the Peter Moody trained Riva San achieved the feat in 2008.
Youngstar is high up in the Queensland Derby market order and shares the third line of betting at $6.50 with Dark Dream at Ladbrokes.com.au.
The John O’Shea trained Live And Free and Darren Weir’s Lucky For All share favouritism at $4.50 just ahead of another Weir colt, the inform Heavenly Thought at $5.50.
Early betting for the 2018 Queensland Derby at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.50 Live And Free, Lucky For All, $5.50 Heavenly Thought, $6.50 Dark Dream, Youngstar, $11 Han Xin, Mahamedeis, $16 Tangled, $21 Rezealient, $31 Merovee, $41 Banner Season, California Turbo, Heir To The Throne, Ombudsman, $51 or better the rest.
