NZ fillies show their Queensland Oaks form

A midweek win at Randwick has boosted one New Zealand filly’s chances of a Queensland Oaks start but another may struggle to make the field despite victory at Ipswich.

And although Provocative is on the borderline, she is the $7.50 second favourite for the Group One Classic on June 4 after Wednesday’s Ipswich win while Randwick winner Romantic Maid is at $12.

The $12,000 Ipswich first prize took the Tony Pike-trained Provocative’s earnings to $30,278 while Romantic Maid has now amassed $47,582.

It’s been a much harder road to the Oaks for Romantic Maid than trainer Roger James envisaged, with the filly losing her rider in a Group Two race at Ellerslie last month.

She ran third at Rosehill last Saturday week and, with the addition of blinkers on Wednesday, lived up to her favouritism to score a determined win over 2000m.

“She wasn’t going to get a start in the Doomben Roses on Saturday so we had to come here instead,” James said.

“There is a bit of relief. She should have sealed a Queensland Oaks start with that run.

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“Michael Rodd rode her at Rosehill and suggested the blinkers.

“She has worked in them and it’s something I’ve had in mind so we decided to go with it.”

Provocative ($1.80), who had good form around Saturday’s Rough Habit Plate winner Mackintosh, was not comfortable on the tight Ipswich tack but scored an easy win two-length win over 2100m.

Pike said if she failed the make the Oaks field, Provocative could instead run in the Queensland Derby a week later.

“She is a Zabeel filly who is pretty promising. The track didn’t suit her today but she will be much better on a bigger track,” he said.

James, who won the 2000 Queensland Oaks with Giovana, also has hopes of a Queensland Derby win with The Hassler.

“He will gallop between races at Te Rapa on Saturday and come over after that,” James said.

“I’ve never won a Queensland Derby and I think he’s the horse to do it.”

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