Divine Purpose on trial for Queensland Oaks at Ipswich

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Clinton Taylor is hopeful talented filly Divine Purpose can overcome her first Ipswich appearance in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap on Wednesday and book a place in next month’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks.

Divine Purpose - a Ben Thompson mount – will be out to give Taylor and the filly’s owners Laird and Sonya Morgan, their first Group 1 starter in the 2200 metre Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on June 3.

The daughter of Divine Prophet earned a trip to Brisbane for the winter carnival after claiming the Capricornia Yearling Sale Classic at Rockhampton last month.

However, she put in the worst performance of her short career when she weakened badly to tail off last in a field of 15 in the Listed Princess Stakes at Eagle Farm last month.

Taylor put a line through the run and stepped her up distance to 1800 metres in a Benchmark race on May 3 where she produced a gutsy effort to finished second to the Les Ross-trained Mishani Spartan.

“She was very disappointing in the Princess Stakes but they did go very fast and she had no luck,” Taylor said.

“Her last run behind Mishani Spartan was terrific when she was strong to the line over 1800 metres.

“The leaders got away with a few cheap sectionals that day.”

Divine Purpose was bought for $10,000 as a weanling and was later put through the Capricornia Yearling sales to qualify her for Rockhampton’s Capricornia Yearling Sale Classic.

“She was sold for $55,000 at the Rocky sales and she’s developed into a very promising filly who deserves her chance down here,” Taylor said.

“I thought she was very strong through the line last start and hopefully she’ll be in the finish.

“Her opposition look much the same as last time and if she can win, she’ll go the Queensland Oaks.

“The main worry I have with her is starting at Ipswich for the first time with its tight turns as she’s used to racing on bigger tracks.

“She’s a three-year-old filly who can stay and you only get one chance at an Oaks so it’ll be very exciting if she can get into the race.”

Meanwhile, Taylor revealed stable mate Chinny Boom will continue her winter campaign after pulling up lame following her run in the Listed Mick Dittman Plate at Doomben last month.

“She pulled up a bit short in her action after the race, but we had her x-rayed and the vets went all over her and couldn’t find much wrong,” he said.

“She’s back in work now and we'll give her a bit more time before targeting some of the winter races towards the end of the carnival.”