Gold Coast Bracelet winner Dynasties will take her place in the Queensland Oaks, provided she pleases the stable in a crucial trackwork hit-out on Tuesday.
Co-trainer Peter Snowden believed the filly had genuine excuses when she was well beaten at her final lead-up run at Rosehill and had bounced through the defeat so well, he could find no reason not to press on to Saturday’s Group 1 race, especially with the prospect of a firmer track.
“She had 59-1/2 (kilos) on her back, she was a three-year-old filly against the older horses and she was totally outgraded, but it was a run I wanted her to have,” Snowden said.
“I wanted to see more than that, but it was a really, really heavy track.
“I had an open mind about whether I would take her up (to Brisbane) after that, but she has done so well since, her work was great this (Saturday) morning and there were no signs there to say not to go, or that she is tired or has gone off.
“As long as she works as well again on Tuesday, she will take her place there.”
Adding to Snowden’s buoyant mood is confirmation leading jockey James Mcdonald will partner Dynasties in the Group 1.
McDonald was aboard for her Gold Coast Bracelet victory and like Snowden, remained confident she could figure in the finish if she reproduced that effort.
“He’s stuck with her. He quite likes her and she goes well for him,” Snowden said.
Snowden Racing has enjoyed a stellar start to the Brisbane winter carnival, already winning a brace of majors with Mazu in the Doomben 10,000 and Huetor claiming the scalp of Zaaki in the Doomben Cup.
The latter was one of three feature races winners for the stable on Saturday’s Eagle Farm card, along with Sheeza Belter in the Sires’ Produce Stakes and Najmaty in the Helen Coughlan Stakes.
Dynasties was a $15 chance for the Queensland Oaks with TAB fixed odds on Sunday, with the filly she relegated to second in the Bracelet, the David Vandyke-trained Gypsy Goddess, a clear-cut $3 favourite.