2023 Queensland Oaks Top Selections and Best Bet

Queensland Oaks tips and best bets

The Queensland Oaks for the 3yo fillies is this week's headline act of the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival with some of the most talented runners in the female ranks taking on each other over a distance of 2400m at Eagle Farm.

First run in 1951 the Queensland Oaks was run as a one and a half mile race during the Christmas period. It wouldn’t be until 1973 for the Queensland Oaks to be brought to prominence on its own race day during the Brisbane Winter Carnival.

Run under set weight conditions each runner must carry a weight of 56.5kgs in an attempt to win the $700,000 in prize money available. The prize pool for the QLD Oaks was raised in recent years encouraging more trainers to bring their talented fillies to the Sunshine State.

When the Queensland Oaks became a group one race in 1980 however you could argue that there were already some talented winners of the race with the likes of Malt Maid, Evening Pearl and Surround all previous winners of the race. 

More recently the out of state performers have raided the Queensland Oaks with the likes of Sydney based trainers Chris Waller and Edward Cummings winning editions of the race with Winx, Egg Tart, Youngstar and Duais.

Last year however the locals got one back as Gypsy Goddess powered to victory in the Queensland Group One. Can the locals go back to back or will it be an out of state raider looking to take out the 3yo fillies title for another year. 

2023 Queensland Oaks Race Overview

The Queensland Oaks, run over a distance of 2,400m is set to be contested by a capacity field on Saturday with 18 runners plus five emergencies included in the barrier draw in Queensland on Wednesday. 

At the top of the market we did have Fireburn for the Gary Portelli stable until the filly was controversially scratched by Queensland Vets on Thursday. That shifted the market somewhat and brought Renaissance Woman to the top of the market.

Last time out Renaissance Woman finished second to Fireburn and now the Bjorn Baker runner takes market favourtism with the Portelli runner ruled out. Renaissance Women sits as a $3.70 favourite to win the Queensland Oaks.

The second highest rated horse in Affaire A Suirve who represents another out of town stable in the form of Maher and Eustace. A recent Group One Oaks winner in South Australia the three year old holds a clear $4.50 second in the market. 

Outside of these two Sakura Girl is the only other runner in single figures with the Ben Foote runner sitting as a $9.50 chance after the scratching of Fireburn. 

There are then a cluster of winners including Proscenium Arch, Super Chilled, Cheval D’Or and So Dazzling that sit around the $12 mark with the rest of the field $17 plus.

2023 Queensland Oaks Top Selections and Best Bet

Conditions look to be on point for the 2023 running of the Queensland Oaks with a capacity field of 18 set to do battle over the 2400m distance at Eagle Farm under set weight conditions. 

We take the usual approach and identify our Outside Chance to win, the Main Danger and our best bet for the Queensland Oaks. 

Queensland Oaks Outside Chance - 12. Proscenium Arch

Trainer - Trent Bussuttin & Natalia Young

Price - $18.00

While the form of Proscenium Arch doesn’t look much on paper she has been piecing together decent performances in the distance races around the country, most recently when finishing 4th behind Fireburn in the Roses at Doomben. 

Before that she was 5th in the South Australasian Oaks at Morphettville when failing to see out the 2400m after getting an easy run into the home straight. There could be arguments made on that performance with her being forced forward over the first 300m and using fuel that may have kept her in front in the home straight.

Next up she finished off like a train in The Roses at Doomben over 2000m and looked more suited to running on from off the pace. The extra 400m here would be a plus as well as the fairly decent barrier draw.

Could show up late and worth an each way dabble at the price. 

Queensland Oaks Main Danger - 7. Sakura Girl

Trainer - Ben Foote

Price - $9.50

A kiwi raider that gave a good showing in the Group 2 The Roses last time out at Doomben when leading for a prolonged period of the race before being collared late in the day by Fireburn.

Draws barrier 21 which is a concern here but the long straight at Doomben means she should be able to push forward in the early stages to take up the running once again.

With the surface looking to play in the Good range Sakura Girl is probably going to get the right ground having won two from four and placed once on Good going. 

The booking of Opie Bosson looks to be another plus and could go close if she runs up to the same level she showed in The Roses. 

2023 Queensland Oaks Best Bet - 3. Renaissance Woman

Trainer - Bjorn Baker

Price - $3.70

Before the scratching of Fireburn we had Renaissance Women as our main danger for the race having finished off so well in The Roses when running second at Doomben.

These two were clearing out from the field on that day and the extra distance each time she’s raced this prep doesn’t seem to have phased her. 

Her win in the Listed Sunshine Coast Bracelet was one that really put other trainers and connections on notice when she came flying down the outside to run over the top of them late. From barrier 6 she should be closer to the speed this time and be hard to hold out late.

The only concern is if she gets shuffled a bit too far in the pack but she looks to have the quality to overcome that. 

Queensland Oaks Best Bet - Back Renaissance Woman to win