Doomben to host 2017 Queensland Oaks

The 2017 Group 1 Queensland Oaks will be run at Doomben on Saturday following Racing Queensland’s decision to transfer the classic for the three year old fillies away from Eagle Farm.

The Darren Weir trained Kenedna, above, is one of the top fancies for the Queensland Oaks at Doomben. Photo by Jenny Barnes.

The distance for the Queensland Oaks has been reduced to 2200m from 2400m for the second time in three years after champion mare Winx won her first Group 1 race with a breathtaking win when it was run at Doomben in 2015 while the Eagle Farm track underwent a total reconstruction.

The new Eagle Farm track has failed to live up to expectations over the past twelve months since it’s re-opening on Stradbroke Handicap Day last June and the situation reached flash point on Kingsford-Smith Cup Race Day last Saturday.

The weight for age Group 1 $700,000 Darley Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) was run on a heavy 8 rated track even though there was no rainfall in the seven days in the lead up to Saturday’s Eagle Farm meeting and the surface came in for some heavy criticism from jockeys and trainers.

Racing Queensland subsequently made the decision to transfer this week’s Queensland Oaks meeting to Doomben which also meant that several distances for some of the supporting races had to be changed.

The Queensland Oaks will now be run over 2200m with the first acceptances remaining intact with the final field being released on Wednesday while the following distance changes for the supporting races are listed below –

• Group 2 $175,000 Moreton Cup – was 1300m, is now 1200m
• Listed $100,000 Lightning Handicap – was 1000m, is now 1050m
• Listed $100,000 Spear Chief Handicap – was 1500m, is now 1600m
• Listed $100,000 The Phoenix – was 1500m, is now 1350m

The distances for the remaining races on the program, namely the Group 2 $200,000 P J O’Shea Stakes (2200m), Listed $100,000 Bill Carter Stakes (1200m) & the Listed $100,000 Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) remain as were previously programmed.

Nomination closure for the remaining races on the program has been extended and will now close at 4:00pm today, Monday 29 May, 2017.