Queensland Oaks

Winners and Past Results for the Queensland Oaks

Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane has some of the finest three year old staying fillies enter the Group 1 Queensland Oaks during the winter racing carnival in late May or early June. The 2400 metre event is run under set weight conditions with a bounty of $400,000 offered to the winner.

The race is hosted by the Brisbane Racing Club that also conducts a number of group races on the day. This includes the Group 2 Sires Produce Stakes, QTC Cup, Dane Ripper Stakes, and the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes among others. The premier staying event of the Brisbane winter racing carnival attracts local as well as interstate fillies seeking to prove their ability over long distances during the season. Even though the Queensland Oaks may not attract a field as strong as the AJC Oaks at Randwick Racetrack it is undoubtedly one of the major events that most owners and trainers like to add to their kitty.

Among the handy form guides leading up to the Queensland Oaks is the Group 3 Doomben Roses. The 2020 metre race has seen many fillies either win or place well in both events. Purple was third to reach the post in the 2009 Doomben Roses and followed it up with a classic win in the Queensland Oaks. Ethereal in 2001 and Scarlett Lady in 2011 are among the recent fillies to score a double while The Jewel in 2003, Cinque Cento in 2005, and Heavenly Glow in 2008 placed well in the Queensland Oaks after winning the Doomben Roses.

Horses may vie for a place in the Group 3 Queensland Derby over 2400 metres, which held a week later at Eagle Farm Racetrack. Four fillies have scored a Queensland Oaks/Queensland Derby double since it was rescheduled as part of the winter carnival in 1973 with Riva San being the most recent to achieve the feat in 2008. Other horses may gear up for the Melbourne spring carnival for an entry to the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes and the Group 2 Sandown Classic the following week at Sandown Races.

The Queensland Oaks has been held since 1951 with a fine crop of staying fillies forcing Brisbane Racing Club to award it Group 1 status in 1980. Among the classiest fillies to make the grade in recent times include Bravery in 1988, Royal Magic in 1992, Miss Danehill in 1999, Eskimo Queen in 2008, and Purple in 2009.

2012 Queensland Oaks

Quintessential jumped from barrier one and jockey Damien Browne was keen to be near the speed from the early stages, so he had no hesitation in pushing the filly forward just after the start. Quintessential settled near the lead, and as the field ploughed their way over the heavy track the filly seemed to be travelling as well as anything else in the race. Quintessential moved past the leaders at the top of the straight, and for a while she and Eliza Blues battled it out, before Quintessential shook off her rival and went to the post two lengths clear. Eliza Blues held on for second, comfortably ahead of Vittoria.

2012 Queensland Oaks result

1. Quintessential
2. Eliza Blues
3. Vittoria

Then came:

4. Dowager Queen
5. Urban Rocker
6. Red Typhoon
7. Pretty Pins
8. Poste Restante
9. Anagold
10. Miss Artistic
11. Angelus
12. Scorpio Queen
13. Invest
14. Rock Hit
15. Rocksan
16. Angel Of Mercy
17. Tycoon’s Heart