By Glenn Davis
Promising filly Rosendahl Red will take another step on the path to the Group 1 Queensland Oaks when she attempts back-to-back wins in the Listed Princess Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.
The Matt Kropp-trained filly showed the Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben on June 1 was a worthy target with a brilliant win in the Toowoomba Guineas on April 6.
As well as Rosendahl Red, Kropp hopes the consistent Spirit’s Choice can cause an upset in the Listed Mick Dittman Plate (1110m).
Kropp has been training fulltime for 16 years and is in with a chance this winter of training his first Group 1 of his career.
While Rosendahl Red is aiming for the Queensland Oaks, Kropp also has talented colt Trusty Lad chasing the Group 1 Queensland Derby.
Trusty Lad began his Queensland Derby campaign with a courageous first-up second to the Chris Munce-trained Racecourse Road at Eagle Farm on April 13 while Rosendahl Red was too strong for the Tony Sears-trained Barefoot in the Toowoomba Guineas.
“I thought Barefoot was the one to beat in the Toowoomba Guineas and my filly won quite well,” Kropp said.
“It was a very good win and she’s come through the Guineas well.
“If she shows she wants to stay she’ll head to the Oaks and we’ll get more of an idea about that as we go along with her.
“Hopefully she can get a nice run again after drawing well in barrier five.”
Kropp will give Rosendahl Red every chance to prove she’s a Queensland Oaks contender.
“If she runs well again, she’ll run next in the Gold Coast Bracelet then she’ll run in The Roses which will decide if she heads to the Oaks,” he said.
Kropp is hopeful Rosendahl Red’s bloodlines will carry her through to the Oaks.
“It could go either way with her breeding but she’s by Red Dazzler who sired the Queensland Oaks winner Tinto and she’s out of an Octagonal mare,” he said.
“All we can do is to continue to work hard and hope it all comes together in the winter with her and Trusty Lad.”
Kropp has no winter plans in mind with Spirit’s Choice at this stage.
“She’s been a little beauty for us but I’ll see how she goes tomorrow before we decide what to do next with her,” he said.
Spirit’s Choice landed a hat-trick of wins on the provincial circuit at Dalby on March 9 before a last start second to Mishani Hustler in $200,000 TAB The Jewel at Eagle Farm on March 23.
Racing Queensland webnews April 19