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Rhys McLeod has produced a gem of a ride in steering Gondokoro to Queensland Oaks victory at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Zabeel filly was only narrowly defeated during The Roses the run prior behind Dear Demi however emphatically turned the tables in last Saturday’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks.
Gondokoro was positioned midfield by jockey Rhys McLeod with the pair keeping Dear Demi well within their sights.
A crucial moment took place with approximately 900m remaining as Nash Rawiller began to move Dear Demi off the fence.
McLeod capitalised on this as he moved the Zabeel filly up through the field along the rail.
Rounding the home turn the pair did move off the fence before barging into clear running room upon straightening.
Gondokoro from there stamped her authority on the race as she pulled away to claim a three length victory.
Miss Zenalla and Vaquera filled the minor placings.
Race favourite Dear Demi finished more than eight lengths off the winner in seventh.
Winning trainer Pat Carey was quick to praise the ride of Rhys McLeod post race.
“He is a very cool rider is Rhys and he rode the lovely race,” Carey said.
“Today was her day. Credit to Gondokoro and just a classic ride from Rhys.
“I was very happy to see her [Dear Demi] move off the fence. Rhys was able to get to where he wanted to be in the straight at the right time.
“It was the start of winning it and the finish was at the post.”
Gondokoro’s winning performance yielded the filly a new master Timeform rating of 111, seven pounds above her previous peak rating achieved in the VRC Oaks.
The effort came in just below the previous five-year-winning average of the event.
Seven days after her Queensland Oaks success, Gondokoro is expected to contest the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm.
Gondokoro will likely have to further lift upon her master Timeform rating if she is to win the Queensland Derby when looking at the latest renewals.
Brambles [112, 2012], Shootoff [2011, 114] and Dariana [2010, 116] all helped bolster that five-year-winning average of the Queensland Derby.
Court Ruler in 2009 was the last Queensland Derby victor to claim the race with a figure below Gondokoro’s current peak when he edged out subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Shocking.
The year before, Riva San took out the event who was the last filly to claim the Queensland Oaks/Queensland Derby double.
Royal Magic in 1992 is the only other filly over the past two decades who has claimed that double with just four having achieved the feat since 1973.
While Queensland Oaks winning fillies have gone on to win the Queensland Derby later that preparation, form from the race generally hasn't held up the following seasons during Australia's Spring and Autumn carnivals.
2007 Queensland Oaks winner Eskimo Queen was the last filly to claim a subsequent Group 1 success in Australia as a mare when she took out the 2008 Coolmore Classic (1500m).
You have to look back to the 2001 renewal of the Oaks for the next filly to have subsequently enjoyed Group 1 success as an older horse, and that was the champion mare Ethereal.
The Sheila Laxon-trained stayer proceeded to claim the Caulfield – Melbourne Cup double the following season.
1996 Oaks winner Arctic Scent rounds out a trio of fillies over the past two decades who have contested the Oaks and gone on and claimed an Australian Group 1 in following seasons.
She took out the Caulfield Cup later that year.
For this reason, the Queensland Oaks has come under fire for its status as a Group 1 event however 2012 winner Quintessential has gone about silencing the critics since returning to the Sunshine State.
The John Sargent-trained mare returned to the winners circle two back when claiming the Chairman’s Handicap (2100m) and then went up a level last Saturday in the Group 2 Eagle Farm Cup (2200m).
Quintessential fought hard to fend off a late challenge from the Peter Moody-trained Manighar and in doing so, posted a new master Timeform rating of 118.