By Glenn Davis
Talented Sydney filly Youngstar burst into Queensland Oaks favouritism following her explosive win in the Group 2 The Roses at Doomben on Saturday.
Youngstar, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, made a long-sustained run before going on to down stablemate Another Dollar by one length in the 2000-metre feature.
Highway was third, a further two lengths away.
Youngstar was a $9.00 chance in early UBET markets for the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Doomben in two weeks behind $6.50 favourite Torvill but a major reshuffle is likely following The Roses result.
Youngstar is aiming to give trainer Chris Waller his third Queensland Oaks win following his previous victories with champion filly Winx in 2015 and Egg Tart last year.
However, Youngstar will need to defy history as only two fillies, Ethereal in 2001 and Scarlett Lady in 2011, have gone on to claim The Roses-Queensland Oaks double.
Winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy has always had a big opinion of Youngstar who completed a hat-trick of wins after winning her maiden at Hawkesbury and a Benchmark race at Newcastle last month.
“She’s a filly I’ve liked for some time,” McEvoy said.
“The 2000 metres really suited her today and she might be even sharper if they put blinkers on her but that’s up to Chris (Waller).”
Waller’s stable manager Charlie Duckworth was delighted with the win.
“We’ve been taking her through her grades as she’s been a horse with quality,” he said.
“It was good to see she how she wound up as she takes time going through her gears.”
Meanwhile Newcastle trainer Paul Perry made a rare Queensland visit to claim the Listed Queensland Day Handicap with Perast.
Perast, ridden by Sydney’s Tim Clark, led all the way to down Marsupial by 1-1/4 lengths with Mishani Bullitt, third, a similar margin away.
Perry’s last winner in Queensland was in the 2007 Brisbane Cup with Newport.
“I came here because I thought he was well placed after he won the Caulfield Guineas Prelude in the spring,” Perry said.
“He’s a gross colt who needs racing but it was always the plan to come here.
“There’s a couple of nice races for him in the winter and the Queensland Guineas is one.”
After winning the Caulfield Guineas Prelude, Perast finished a creditable fifth in the Group 1 Caulfield Guinea in October.
The Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) will be run at Doomben on June 2.
Racing Queensland webnews May 12