By Glenn Davis
Australian Hall Of Fame trainer Chris Waller added another piece of history to his incredible resume when Youngstar gave him his third Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Doomben on Saturday.
The Queensland Oaks has been run three times at Doomben while Eagle Farm is under renovations and Waller has won all three with Winx (2015), Egg Tart (2017) and now Youngstar.
Provocative won the 2016 Queensland Oaks when it was held at Eagle Farm before it was closed again for further remedial work.
Youngstar overcame difficulties during the race before scoring by a nose over stablemate Another Dollar with Sheedashing third, a further short half head away.
The daughter of High Chaparral was still a maiden last month before breaking through at Hawkesbury for her first win.
She subsequently won a restricted race at Newcastle before storming into Oaks contention with a brilliant win in the Group 2 Doomben Roses.
“She’s done this the hard way coming through provincial races in NSW,” Waller said.
“She had a perfect run early but then she was shuffled three and four wide.
“It was like watching a bicycle race the way they were changing positions and wheeling around.
“She needed all of her qualities to come back on the line.”
Waller hasn’t ruled out backing-up Youngstar in the Group 1 Queensland Derby at Doomben in two weeks.
Meanwhile trainer James Cummings may be tempted to extend Godolphin’s Duca Valentinois’ winter campaign following the gelding’s first Group 3 win in the Lord Mayor’s Cup (1630m).
Duca Valentinois settled perfectly for Sydney rider Glyn Schofield before downing early leader Sheiswhatsheis by 1-1/2 lengths.
Cummings considered sending the six-year-old to the paddock after he finished second in the Listed Scone Cup but extended his campaign to the Brisbane winter carnival after he recovered so well.
“It was an enormous effort (in the Scone Cup) and I was tempted to give him a break in the paddock but he recovered so well we gave him another go in this,” Cummings said.
“I haven’t tried him beyond a mile so it might be interesting if he can keep him going to see if he can back-up.”
Cummings may back him up in the Group 2 P J O'Shea Stakes (2200m) at the Sunshine Coast next Saturday.
Newcastle trainer Paul Perry was left with a dilemma after Perast produced a sizzling win in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic.
Perast made his opposition look second rate leading all the way for a commanding half length win over runner-up Assimilate.
A winner of the Listed Queensland Day Stakes at his previous start, Perast’s win automatically qualifies him for a start in the $1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben on June 9.
“Our original plan was to run in the Queensland Guineas but three-year-olds have a good record in the Stradbroke,” said Shannon Perry.
“Either way I don’t care as I think he’ll win both.”
Racing Queensland webnews May 26