Queensland Oaks Tips - Movin’ Out to take down Philia in the Queensland Oaks, value with last start Group 1 placegetter

The David Vandyke filly is favourite for the $700,000 Group 1 and comes in with four straight wins under the belt after taking out the recent Group 2 The Roses. 

The half-sister to the 2021 winner, Duais, will be looking to join Gypsy Godess (2022) as another winner in this race for VanDyke. 

Nine of the field of 18 (& five emergencies) come out of the Doomben Roses, including Jenni’s Meadow, who is a genuine threat from the Hayes team that finally draws a favourable barrier. She was runner-up in the Roses, while the 3rd placegetter, Chris Waller’s Movin Out, will also be out to turn the tables on the winner. 

The Australasian Oaks (2000m) winner from Morphettville, Benagil, is one that will be looking to bounce back after finishing down the track in the same race. 

The Godolphin galloper, Pinito, heads back up the highway after taking out the Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) at her most recent start. She was runner-up behind Philia prior to that over the 1600m at Eagle Farm. Behind Pinito at the Gold Coast was Amplify. 

She is trained by Ciaron Maher, who pulled off one of racing’s biggest shocks last year when Socks Nation won the Oaks at 100-1. Amplify, while not as overlooked in betting ($34), carries a similarly unconventional preparation, including a confidence-boosting run at Bathurst and a solid placing in The Bracelet. 

Let’s Fly and Shangri La Impact face their biggest tests to date but are among seven last start winners in the race and might have scope to make the necessary improvement to trouble some of the fancied runners. 

Philia draws barrier 16 and will come in a few slots after the removal of the emergencies. Expect her to roll across to find the front. There are a lack of genuine front runners here and I dont expect the favourite to have to burn too much fuel early on. Sweltering also draws out and has headed forward in the past but went back at her recent run. Shangri La Impact and Eclair Express are others that might settle in the first few. Jenni’s Meadow draws barrier 1 and might enjoy the favours slightly forward of midfield, while Poster Girl and Pleaure Artist are others that draw low. Pinito, Churchill Choice and Movin Out are among the likely backmarkers. 

Movin’ Out has been threatening to produce a big performance since her dominant Mornington Guineas (1600m) win three starts ago and can deliver for the Chris Waller stable in the Queensland Oaks. After her Mornington triumph, she settled a mile back at Morphettville in the Australasian Oaks and came out extremely wide before just peaking on her run late in the piece to land just over a length from the winner in 4th position. She then headed to the Doomben Roses and had no option but to get back from the wide barrier, overcoming a slow tempo to produce the fastest last 400m and 200m to fly home for 3rd behind Philia. The Eagle Farm track should suit her better, while the extra 200m could be telling in the end this time around. James McDonald jumps on for the first time and she looks rock solid at the quote. 

Sweltering was massive in the Australasian Oaks, finishing runner-up behind Benagil, despite being posted wide no cover for the majority of the trip. The Busuttin/Young galloper was stepping up from a Terang Maiden that day and might be a bit untapped. Interesting to see what Rachel King does from the wide barrier early on but if she can find a spot early on the daughter of Too Darn Hot, she is worth something at decent odds based on her last start performance.