Alaskan Rose to tackle G1 Queensland Oaks
Mike Moroney will give Alaskan Rose another shot at Group One glory before the end of her three-year-old season.
The filly lines up in the Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on Saturday, the opening meeting at the refurbished track.
It will be her third start at the highest level during the 2015-16 season.
Alaskan Rose ran 10th in the Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield in the spring and finished 11th in the ATC Australian Oaks at Randwick last month.
She completed her Queensland Oaks preparation with a midfield finish in The Roses at Doomben on May 21, a run described by Moroney as one of the better ones in the race.
“She got a pretty ordinary run in transit,” Moroney said.
“She got run off the track at about the 700 metres when all the interference happened and was very wide on the turn.
“It was a pretty tough run but to her credit she’s bounced through it really well.
“She’s eaten well and hasn’t taken any harm from it, so we’ll press ahead.”
Former Hong Kong and Singapore based-South African jockey Robbie Fradd, chasing a first Group One Australian victory, retains the ride on Saturday.
“He’s had a ride on her now, so he knows her,” Moroney said.
Alaskan Rose is a $26 chance in an open betting race with Dawnie Perfect, Falkenberg and Imposing Lass sharing favouritism at $7.
Stablemate Tivaci will press ahead to the Queensland Guineas (1600m) on Saturday week after his fourth placing in the Fred Best Stakes at Doomben.
Tivaci holds a nomination for the Stradbroke Handicap but Moroney said the colt needed to win last week, his first run since March, to be assured of gaining a start.
“He’s a pretty tough colt. He comes out of his races well no matter what happens to him,” Moroney said.