A talented and capacity field of eighteen plus four emergencies has been confirmed for Saturday’s 2016 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm Racecourse; highlighted by the inclusion of some of the Brisbane Winter Carnival’s standout three-year-old fillies.
Kebede has been confirmed in the 2016 Queensland Oaks final field. Photo: Daniel Costello
Kebede stormed home to win Group 2 The Roses (2000m) a fortnight ago and is drawn ideally for her run in the Queensland Oaks in barrier 5.
Undoubtedly the stable star for Murwillumbah-based trainer Matt Dunn through a short but impressive career so far; posting four wins and two minors through only nine competitive starts.
Resuming this time for consecutive wins in three minor races, the Redoute’s Choice filly made a commendable transition to black type company when fourth in the Listed Princess Stakes (1600m) on April 23rd.
Having run on for third in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) in her only other start prior to her Roses triumph, Kebede will be partnered by regular hoop Jim Byrne in the 2016 Queensland Oaks.
Sebring Sally savaged the line for second in The Roses last time, and while charged with overcoming a wide Queensland Oaks barrier, is sure to be given a gem of a ride by leading hoop Hugh Bowman.
Winner of the Listed Lees Strutt Stakes (2100m) in Hobart on February 8th, Sebring Sally returned to the paddock for a brief freshen-up after failing to fire in the Listed Tasmanian Oaks (2100m) on February 21st.
Returning for fourth in a Canterbury minor over 1550m on April 27th, the daughter of Sebring clearly needed a run in Queensland when tenth in the Gold Coast Bracelet, but showed her class when second last time.
Peter and Paul Snowden have been confirmed to launch a multi-pronged attack in the Group 1 feature race, after confirming all of Self Esteem (barrier 4), Falkenberg (barrier 3) and Tap This (barrier 13) in the 2016 Queensland Oaks field.
Running fourth in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) on March 26th, Self Esteem was completely luckless late when ninth in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) during The Championships.
Returning from a month between runs for second in the Gold Coast Bracelet, the Stratum filly charged home for fourth in The Roses last time and is primed for another big performance.
Falkenberg has been a strong and consistent performer for Team Snowden, and appears as though she’ll be well suited to a mile and a half in the Queensland Oaks.
Beating a number of notable opponents to the line in the Schweppes BM67 (1600m) on March 28th, the More Than Ready filly placed fourth in a Rosehill minor over 1500m and the Gold Coast Bracelet, before a luckless run for seventh in The Roses.
Tap This has consistent something of an inconsistent preparation this time, but carries winning form into the Queensland Oaks after being given a soft kill in The Avenue BM80 (2200m) on The Gold Coast last weekend.
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2016 Queensland Oaks Final Field and Barrier Draw
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1313×85020 | AMBIENCE | John O’Shea | James McDonald | 21 | 56.5kg | 98 |
| 2 | 0334116541 | CHABAUD (NZ) | Robert Smerdon | – | 14 | 56.5kg | 82 |
| 3 | x82x111431 | KEBEDE | Matthew Dunn | Jim Byrne | 5 | 56.5kg | 86 |
| 4 | 21×1113 | IMPOSING LASS (NZ) | Bjorn Baker | Jason Collett | 10 | 56.5kg | 82 |
| 5 | 212×444074 | BELUGA BLUE | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas | Glen Colless | 7 | 56.5kg | 72 |
| 6 | x25210x402 | SEBRING SALLY | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 19 | 56.5kg | 78 |
| 7 | 1×45124924 | SELF ESTEEM | Peter & Paul Snowden | Tim Clark | 4 | 56.5kg | 81 |
| 8 | 80×6673208 | ALASKAN ROSE (NZ) | Michael Moroney | Robbie Fradd | 12 | 56.5kg | 77 |
| 9 | 46×5113260 | QUEEN OF WANDS | Clarry Conners | Michael Cahill | 8 | 56.5kg | 78 |
| 10 | 2314×00056 | DAWNIE PERFECT | Clarry Conners | Kerrin McEvoy | 22 | 56.5kg | 79.5 |
| 11 | 092×804132 | ASHLEE MARIE | Richard Laming | Darren Gauci | 1 | 56.5kg | 70 |
| 12 | 22×121447 | FALKENBERG | Peter & Paul Snowden | Blake Shinn | 3 | 56.5kg | 73 |
| 13 | 5x58x18951 | TAP THIS | Peter & Paul Snowden | Christian Reith | 13 | 56.5kg | 74 |
| 14 | 419×331 | TAVI BAY (NZ) | Henry Dwyer | Damian Browne | 16 | 56.5kg | 70 |
| 15 | 114L31 | ROMANTIC MAID | Roger James | Sam Clipperton | 15 | 56.5kg | 75 |
| 16 | 61055×660 | DULVERTON | Robert Smerdon | Mark Zahra | 2 | 56.5kg | 64 |
| 17 | 44×463371 | ZASORCERESS (NZ) | Jason Warren | Daniel Griffin | 17 | 56.5kg | 68 |
| 18 | 4562141 | MOUNT OMEI | Chris Waller | – | 11 | 56.5kg | 68 |
| 19e | 1416×41 | PROVOCATIVE (NZ) | Tony Pike | Leith Innes | 20 | 56.5kg | 73 |
| 20e | 60x622x316 | SAHARA SIREN | Alan L Jones | Brad Pengelly | 18 | 56.5kg | 67 |
| 21e | 500×624360 | MERU | Pat Carey | – | 9 | 56.5kg | – |
| 22e | 10×091 | ZAFIKI (NZ) | Robert Smerdon | – | 6 | 56.5kg | 66 |
