The Queensland Oaks – Doomben Old Oaks

The Queensland Oaks is traditionally a highlight if the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, and is held at the Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane. In total it hosts an impressive 8 races, and doubles up as the Eagle Farm Racecourse Ladies’ Day with the programme including the 2200 metre Group Two Eagle Farm Cup and he Group Two QTC Cup as well. Track reconstruction over the 3014-15 race season saw the event move to Doomben Racecourse temporarily, but in 2016 it will be held at Eagle Farm again. It is overseen by the Brisbane Racing Club and is a Group One Thoroughbred event for fillies of set weights, and is run over a 2,400 metre distance. Its total purse is an impressive 500,000 Australian Dollars, so it attracts many of the best jockeys and horses in the country and is always exciting to watch.

Some Background

The Queensland Oaks is the feature race on the opening day of the Eagle Farm’s carnival. It was first run in 1951 and was won by Maltmaid, and attained Group One status in 1980, the same year in which Lowan Star took the title under the guidance of the legendary trainer TJ Smith. The race is quite a major event in itself, but many of its winners have gone on to perform well in even bigger meets; Ethereal took the Queensland event and went on to win both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in 2001.

Other noteworthy champions include Lady Hannah in 1952, Evening Peal in 1955, Aspalita in 1963, Bonnybel in 1974, Surround in 1977, Round The World in 1987, Triscay in 1991, Slight Chance in 1993, Booked in 1994, Eskimo Queen in 2007, Purple in 2009, Miss Keepsake in 2010 and Scarlett Lady in 2011. As many enthusiasts already know, the impressive 2015 champion goes by the simple and apt name of Win.

The Doomben Roses Lead-up

Moving the action to the Doomben Racecourse for 2015 was quite fitting, because the Doomben Roses are seen as the major lead-up race to the Queensland Oaks. This is held 2 weeks earlier at the Doomben track, and is run over 2,000 metres. The most recent double winners are Ethereal and Scarlett Lady, and many other fillies who place well in the Roses go on to do the same at the Oaks.

Punters should pay special attention to the sports betting NZ performances in the lead-up race when they’re putting money down on the Queensland Oaks, and as always should also consider the horse-and-jockey teams, competitors in the race, track and weather conditions and any other reliable tips they come across. It should also be noted that only 3 horses in the past 14 years have won from double-figure gates, so drawing a barrier is very important. In terms of favourites, in the past 10 years 4 out of 10 have won but 4 out of 10 have failed to place as well, and since 1983 the Oaks top pick has been placed 13 times and has won 9 times. When the fact that 4 of the past 11 winners have had starting odds of 16-1 or better the race becomes even tougher for punters, but the risks are matched by the potential rewards. Using their skills to decide which horses to back will be irresistible for most enthusiasts, and their insights and wins will increase over time.