Queensland Oaks Moved From Eagle Farm to Doomben
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Photo: Wiki Media Commons/Commander Kean
Doomben Racecourse in Australia
The group 1 Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks is traditionally held at Eagle Farm, but will be run at Doomben June 3 because of the perilous condition of the Eagle Farm track surface.
Jockeys, trainers, and owners were up in arms after the race day there May 27, which resulted in many runners failing to handle the soft, shifting turf surface.
Alarms rang for many participants when the course was listed as heavy prior to the meeting, despite the fact there was no rainfall in Brisbane for the previous seven days.
Racing Queensland was forced to move the June 3 races and the following Saturday card June 10, which will feature three group 1 events, to Doomben.
The switch in venue means the Queensland Oaks will be run at the shorter journey of 2,200 meters (about 1 3/8 miles) rather than the usual 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles).
Champion trainer Chris Waller, who won this race two years ago with his superstar mare Winx, will saddle seven runners in the race—Egg Tart (Sebring), Dawn Wall (Fastnet Rock), Invincibella (I Am Invincible), Oklahoma Girl (Fastnet Rock), Cross Stitch (Pins), Baysa (Mastercraftsman), and Kirini (Medaglia d'Oro ).
Egg Tart has been installed as the morning-line favorite after her victory last time out in the group 1 Schweppes Oaks at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide.