Queeensland branches of the Oaks

By Ross Stanley

The Queensland Turf Club took a leaf out of the book of its southern counterparts and programmed an Oaks contest over 12 furlongs at Eagle Farm for Boxing Day in 1951.

As was the custom in the days of yore, nominations for major races closed very early. This new one for three-year-old fillies had an April 5 deadline.

Subsequently, this aspect has been streamlined. Entries for the 2023 Oaks with a total purse of $700,000 (plus QTIS bonuses) were due only a month before raceday.

Maltmaid (2/1 on) was the first name inscribed on the honour roll. Her jockey Andy Tindall, trainer Mick Kenny, breeder J.F. “Don” Meynink and his lessee-wife Jeannie all shared in the victory that, inclusive of sweepstakes, earnt £1050.

The filly was by Malt Dennis, a great money spinner that Con Doyle trained and then stood at his Torrington base at Toowoomba.

Malt Dennis was by the Irish import Denis Boy (1931 Caulfield Cup, 1932 AJC The Metropolitan). Although his dam Maltgilla was a stakes-winning Sydney sprinter, her offspring Tregilla (1930 AJC Derby) and Leila Vale (1934 AJC Adrian Knox Stakes) handled longer trips.                        

Maltmaid’s dam Anniversary, with genetic endowments from Spearfelt (1924 Victoria Derby, 1926 Melbourne Cup) and the legendary Carbine (1890 Melbourne Cup), hailed from Tom Jennings’ Alma Vale Stud on the Darling Downs. 

Prior to the Oaks, Maltmaid displayed her class. Her dozen outings for four wins and six placings included a successful tilt at the first running of the Doomben (now Lough Neagh) Stakes with Jim Standfield aboard. She also ran third in the prestigious Brisbane Handicap at The Farm.

Kenny had supplied the Queensland Guineas trifecta of Friar’s Frolic, Maltmaid and Dr John Power’s filly Khazana.

Power, as QTC Chairman, presented the pink sash to Maltmaid. Khazan had run third in the Derby but soreness led to her withdrawal from the Oaks.

Post-Oaks, Standfield and Maltmaid encored their Doomben Stakes win, won the Brisbane Handicap and was second in Suncup’s £10,000 Stradbroke in 1953.

Tandawanna, Maltmaid’s son by Dalray that was named after the Meynink’s sheep station near Goondiwindi, took out the 1961 BATC D.J. O’Mara Stakes, was runner-up in the Guineas and developed into a handy middle distance performer.

Maltmaid is the grand dam of the stakes-winning  Aloe gelding Rayloe and the Smokey Eyes filly Kulali, the Meyninks’ 1965 Oaks sash bearer for trainer Vic Franks and jockey John Harbutt.

Anniversary was the grand-dam of Booberanna (1964 Queensland Cup) and Boobereela (1969 Ipswich Cup), the brothers by Dalray bred by Meynink. 

 It could be said that the acorn was slow to germinate because the response to the innovation was underwhelming. The first 14 editions of the Queensland Oaks averaged less than seven candidates and seven odds on pops prevailed across the first 10 stagings. It was a similar tale for the Oaks in the south.

The first two at Flemington, beginning in 1859, were walkovers. The average was a mere five to 1927.

The AJC Oaks also failed to take root. After it kicked off in 1885, nominations were four or less. The event was axed in 1895 and replaced by the New Stakes (1 mile) for both genders. That race was superseded by the Adrian Knox Stakes for fillies in 1922. It was extended to 10 furlongs in 1946 before two more furlongs were added in 1956. In 1963, the Oaks name was revived.

The history of the Queensland Oaks comprises two diametrically opposite sets of outcomes. Home sides dominated up to 1972 with visitors claiming the honours just five times.

Since 1973, the local stables have been largely out on a limb, securing only five of the fifty renewals. However, a number of raiders had links to the host state during that decidedly deciduous-looking bare period.

PART ONE

Kenny and Tindall repeated the dose in the second QTC Oaks on November 22, 1952, with the long odds on favourite Lady Hannah.

She was by Probation (GB) from Hannah, a 15-year-old mare by Pantheon (GB). Pat Jennings leased her from the estate of his father Tom.

Probation’s versatile son, Proletaire, took out 1953 BATC Summer Cup and completed Brisbane’s 1955 Showtime treble, namely the Ascot Handicap, Exhibition Handicap and the QTC Metropolitan.

Reformed (1952 Wellington Cup) and a pre-eminent pair of Comedy King (GB) and Magpie (GB) were members of Lady Hannah’s family.

Kenny and Tindall made it three from three Oaks attempts in 1954 with Mian Mir (10/1). Her breeder-owner Murray Counsell was bogged in at his Prestbury Stud at Southbrook. He missed the exploit of the daughter of Jungle King (GB), his resident stallion was related to the staying identities Bahram (GB) and Bois Roussel (Fr).

Mian Mir’s dam Voeseen was by the 1922 AJC Derby hero Rivoli, a sire based at J.H.S Barnes’ Canning Downs stud near Warwick.

Sydney’s representative Karen (7/4) wilted and finished fifth of six. The Midstream filly downed all bar Royal Sovereign’s dam Sabah in the 1955 AJC Oaks.

Counsell was on hand in 1971 to lead in Mode, his home-bred Oaks pin up. The pocket dynamo was trained at Deagon by Gordon Williams and ridden every time by Graham Cook. 

The Aloe (Ire)-Rising Fashion filly reigned supreme in her “Davina versus Goliath” battles with Planet Kingdom (1971 QTC Grand Prix) and her “nephew” Tails (1972 Brisbane Cup).

Rising Fashion, an “aunt” to the 1961 Doomben Cup winner High Society, was by Tails’ father, Dalray.

Mode lost her life while foaling at the end of her only pregnancy.

Meanwhile, the 1953 Oaks went to Caeneus (NZ). She was ridden by apprentice Bruce Freeman and prepared by George Moore’s early master, the former Thangool horseman Jim Shean.

Armand Perren, a native of Switzerland, was a world famous skater, an exuberant racing enthusiast and a very serious punter. The producer of the Ice Follie Show, that was touring Australasia in the 1950s, flew in from Adelaide to witness the win by Caeneus. Perren used the betting windfall made from Dalray’s 1952 Melbourne Cup hit to buy her as a juvenile from Athol Strong’s wife Doris.

Caeneus was by Hyperion’s son Neptune (GB), the Roman God of the Sea.  Apparently in Greek mythology, Caeneus was initially a woman called Caenis who was transformed into a male by Poseidon, the figure who presided over the sea, storms, earthquakes and horses.

Neptune’s progeny included the winners of the Caulfield Cup, Epsom Handicap, two New Zealand Oaks, Great Northern Derby and the Queensland Guineas. His half-brother Blue Peter (GB) collected the coveted 1939 Two Thousand Guineas-Epsom Derby double.

Urgona, from Fred Best’s Brisbane yard, saluted for Jimmy Standfield in the 1956 Oaks at 7/4 on and in the 1957 Frazer Handicap-Queensland Cup double. 

The Urgay (Fr) filly was owned by the energetic sporting identity C. A. “Bill” Edwards. Her French grand-sire Fiterati (French Two Guineas, 3000m Grand Prix de Paris), was a potential source of stamina.

Golden Stockade’s 1959 Oaks victory, facilitated by trainer Ted Tanwan and jockey Russell Maddock, was well-timed. 

Basil and Rita Nolan founded Raheen Stud at Gladfield on the Darling Downs in 1957. Their well-chosen selections at that year’s Sydney Easter Sales included the Stockade (GB)- Brulette (Fr) filly they raced with Rita’s sister Millie and her husband Jim.

The exploration of her pedigree by the Nolans, the parents of Raheen’s current owner Basil, was spot on.

Stockade’s sire Big Game was the grand-sire of a promising two-year-old and future champion called Tulloch and also the sire of Ambiguity (1931 Epsom Oaks,1932 Goodwood Cup). Other encouraging pointers was Brulette’s 1953 Epsom Oaks success and the fact that Golden Stockade’s dam, Hyasha, traced back through High Caste to Spearmint and Carbine. 

George Benn’s charge Ton (Fred Clarke 6/1), in the 1960 edition, was bred by Canning Downs’ studmaster Charles Edward “Ceb” Barnes. After a sales bid of 220 guineas for the Dalray-Chez Dior filly was rejected, Ceb passed her over to his mother Sarah (“Bine”) and his sister Adeline Bell.

Ton was part of a royal, equine dynasty that went back to the tap root mare Sound. Her descendants included Megaphone and the wonderful Syce mare Molly’s Robe (1920 Oakleigh Plate, 1919 VRC Newmarket and two QTC King’s Plates). Her son, Mollison, recorded a dozen principal race wins. 

Chez Dior foaled the stakeswinners Refulgent and Dalento as well as Dolled Up, the dam of Tails and Man About Town.

Aspalita, the 1963 Oaks winner for breeder-owner Eric Railton, trainer Roy Dawson and jockey Colin O’Neill, also picked up third place in the AJC Oaks. Her daughter Lorne ran second in the Oaks in Sydney and third in the Brisbane version.

Aspalita was by Lyndhurst’s superlative stallion Smokey Eyes (Ire) from the Midstream mare Lady of Lorne.

Smokey Eyes was in the news again in 1964, courtesy of Jack Harbutt’s mount Eye Shadow. The chestnut was an excellent performer on all fronts for trainer Jack Wilson and breeder-owner Percy Kruger.

Lyndhurst and Kruger were to the fore in 1972 when the Reg Dux-prepared Lysander II (GB)-Eye Shadow filly Meanmi Shadow led all the way for Neal Birrer. Her brother Ima Shadow was a Brisbane idol in the late 1970s.

Lysander II’s dam Meld’s English credits included the 1955 One Thousand Guineas, Epsom Oaks and St Leger Stakes. 

Form students were sceptical about the prospects of Blue Roc (Arthur “Skeeter” Sanders) in the 1966 Oaks. Billy Briscoe mentored the 50/1 chance that had not won since her debut at two in the QTC McDougall Stakes.

 Although her sire Wilkes had scored over 2000m in France, he was looked upon as a speed horse. The feats of his daughter Wenona Girl inspired hope. The flashy star’s string of wins included the 1961 version of Randwick’s Oaks, STC Rosehill Guineas and the VRC Wakeful Stakes.

On the maternal side, All Blue, by the stout English stayer Delville Wood, had kinfolk such as Hydrogen, Electro, Prince Delville, Sir Delville and Valerius that thrived over ground.

Sydney’s The Gong (1965 AJC Fernhill Handicap) had to be content with second prize at 5/4 on.

In 1967, both jockey Arthur Lister and trainer Mal Barnes were based in Sydney.

The Queenslanders returned to Brisbane for a crack at the Oaks with Ryeleah. Mal’s wife Norma leased the 10/9 pop that was by the Alma Vale stallion Ryecroft from The Buzzard (GB) mare Hecarte.

Bookmakers braced themselves for a plunge by Frank Duval on his filly What Fun, the AJC Oaks runner-up. He had cleaned up on her in the Wagga Gold Cup but went quietly on the 5/4 on favourite at The Farm.

After an epic struggle, Ryeleah’s head was the difference in what was always going to be match race.

Jack Wilson wisely entrusted apprentice Jimmy Andrews on the tough, highly talented Bright Shadow in 1968.

It was another success for Smokey Eyes and Percy Kruger. The Tudor Monarch (GB) filly So Nice, raced by Percy’s brother Ted, made it a quinella for Lyndhurst.

Kazan Retto, a 20/1 shot for the 1969 Oaks from Jack McCallum’s Toowoomba stables, was another winner for Neal Birrer, an ace hoop over ground. The name for the Brimstone-Young Hopeful filly is Japanese for Volcano Islands, one of which is Iwo Jima.

Although Sydney maestro Tommy Smith put the polish on eight Queensland Oaks winners, this essay was a shock. His runners  Flying Fable (fourth, 7/4 on) and Diamond Cut (second, 2/1) had finished first and third respectively in the AJC Oaks. Bounding Away’s fourth at 2/1 on in 1987 was similarly stunning.

Brimstone, the sire of the 1958 Melbourne Cup winner Baystone, served in breeding barns in New South Wales and Queensland.

Mackay was the original stamping ground for two players who were involved in three of the five profitable Oaks sorties by southerners during Queensland’s evergreen era.

George Moore was the pilot for the Tommy Smith trained duo Orient (1958, 2/1on) and Winnipeg II (1961,10/9 ). Dick Roden, who hung out his shingle in Sydney in 1957, came back to Brisbane in 1962 with Hoa Hine.

Evening Peal (George Podmore, 5/2 on) was a famous name. In 1955, the Delville Wood filly swept up all three versions of the eastern states Oaks, an achievement later replicated by Surround (1977) and November Rain (1981).

In 1956, she was bridesmaid to Redcraze in the AJC The Metropolitan and the Caulfield Cup. Her owners, Rex and Helen White, did not want the stellar Red Mars gelding breaking her heart again in the Melbourne Cup. Her Sydney trainer Peter  Lawson eventually convinced them that the extra weight difference would help turn the tables. It did by a half neck.

White was the chairman of the race club at Mungindi, an unusual place because the Barwon River splits the township into Queensland and New South Wales sections.

In 1970, Brisbane trainer Doug Bougoure and jockey Mel Schumacher with Morning Joy lost on protest to AJC Oaks placegetter Affectionate. Despite a three-quarters-of-a-length margin, the arguments by trainer Neville Begg and Ron Quinton prevailed after a chaotic finish involving the riderless Paris Girl.

Morning Joy, a VRC Wakeful Stakes placegetter, had taken out the prized QTC Moreton Handicap in her lead up. 

PART TWO

Mother of Pearl (7/1), in 1982, was the first of five Queensland based fillies to garner Oaks since 1972.

Gold Coast trainer John Wallace and jockey Danny Williams, pulled off a range plan for Dan Buffier, the boss of Wingarra Stud near the Hunter Region.

The breeder of the Golden Slipper winners Birthday Card (1962) and Sir Dapper (1983) lifted a horse’s tail before he bought.

Queen’s Road, the Oaks minor placegetter, collected the Brisbane Cup.

Mother of Pearl was bred by Eureka Stud’s Colin McAlpine and Sir Edward Stewart. Her sire Rascolnik (GB) was by Reliance, the 1965 French Derby winner whose progeny included Proverb (1973-74 Goodwood Cups, Doncaster Cup) and Tug of War (1978 Goodwood Cup).

Rascolnik’s dam English Miss (Ire) foaled English Prince (1974 Irish Derby). He, in turn, sired Sun Princess (1983 Epsom Oaks). 

Mother of Pearl’s dam, the Aloe mare Mink and Pearls, is a grand-dam of the Semipalantinsk mare Precious Pearl, the grand-dam of Incentivise (2021 Caulfield Cup).

Gold Coast trainer Gerald Ryan and the 3kg claimer Paul Hammersley earnt the laurels in 2002 with Mon Mekki, the Mukddaam filly that also prevailed in the 2003 version of today’s Tatts Tiara.

Her paternal dam, Height of Fashion (Fr), was bred in the purple with her parents Bustino and Highclere both scoring in European classics.   

Toowoomba trainer Rex Lipp, who worked at Eureka Stud for two decades when Colin McAlpine was at the helm, prepared Tinto (Tim Bell) in 2014 for Grania McAlpine, the wife of current principal Scott, and her friend Annabelle Raff. The brown filly was gifted by Fred Snelling, a long time Eureka client.  

Tinto’s sire Red Dazzler and her maternal sire Brave Warrior both worked in Eureka’s breeding barn. 

Tinto de Verano is a red wine and lemon soda mix enjoyed by Spaniards in summer.

Another Eureka Stud product in Just Now won the 1986 AJC Oaks. The grey daughter of Semipalatinsk and the Lumley Road mare Tautina was runner-up in the 1986 QTC Oaks.

The Savabeel filly Scarlett Lady (NZ), the 2011 winner, traces back to Semipalatinsk through Savannah Success (1999 New Zealand Oaks) and her dam Alma Mater (1992 Adrian Knox Stakes).

The 2019 Oaks was a mix of triumph and tragedy. In the lead up, a stroke claimed the life of Paul Makin, the owner of Winning Ways ($21). His filly was trained at the Gold Coast by Garry Newham, the initial trainer of Makin’s outstanding globetrotter Starcraft.

Newham, whose earlier life with thoroughbreds had been centred in Cowra, used Matthew McIllivray, the jockey who had been indentured to Craig Smith at Roma.

Winning Ways, with the GCTC’s Bracelet also on her record, was sold for broodmare duties and was served by Kingman and Camelot Northern hemisphere.

Gypsy Goddess (Willie Pike 7/2), the divine winner in 2022, had been the runner-up in the AJC Oaks. After a breathing problem reduced her turf tenure to 10 tasks, the Tarzino (NZ) filly was sold to Japan.

After failing to reach a reach a $20,000 reserve at the New Zealand sales, she was sent to David Vandyke’s Sunshine Coast establishment. Her 6-2-2 record accrued almost $2 million, aided by the third prize of $1million in the ATC Golden Eagle, wins in the BRC Eagle Way Quality, the Grand Prix and placings in the ATC Vinery Stud Stakes and the GCTC Bracelet.

Her co-breeder and part owner, the Kiwi veterinarian Chris Lawler, bought and raced Zabeel’s grandson Tarzino (2015 VRC Derby, 2016 Rosehill Guineas). Another part-owner was Vandyke’s stalwart client, Bob Jones.

Gypsy Goddess’s family embraces the dual two-miler Just A Dancer, Respect (2007 Perth Cup) and Cheeky Choice ( 2006 AJC Flight Stakes).Further back is Vice Regal’s dam Kind Regards and Le Filou.

THE INVADERS’ JOCKEYS

A swag of visitors were ridden by Queenslanders.

Casino-born Chris Munce, whose apprenticeship was spent with Brisbane mentor Eric Kirwan, booted home Giovana in 2000. The Blue’s Traveller (Ire) filly’s grand-dam was Tristina (1985 Queensland Derby). 

Zabeel’s daughters Zagalia (2003) and Vouvray (2004) and the Keeper filly Miss Keepsake (2010) brought Munce’s Queensland Oaks total to four. They were all New Zealand-bred as were 23 others that included Zabel’s offspring Zacheline (1998), Gondokoro (2013) and Provocative (2016).

Mick Dittman, whose youthful introduction to thoroughbreds took place at Westwood near Rockhampton, was the pilot for Tommy Smith’s pair Denise’s Joy (1976) and A Little Kiss (1990), the Sackford (USA) filly that sported Bernborough’s colours because she was raced by Sir Tristan Antico.

Dittman’s third thrill was in 1991 on the Jack Denman trained Triscay (AJC Oaks. Queensland Guineas).

Ken Russell, a native of Monto, piloted Round The World (1987) and Triumphal Queen (1989) for their conditioners Bart Cummings and Geoff Murphy. 

Others were Doug Messingham (Bonnybel,1974, Arthur Bentley); Gary Palmer (Look Aloft, 1984, Colin Hayes); Stathi Katsidis (Allow, 2006, Clarry Conners); and Larry Olsen (Denise’s Joy’s daughter Joie Denise,1995, Les Bridge).

Expatriate New Zealanders Eddie Wilkinson (Denise’s Joy’s grand-daughter Miss Danehill,1999 Lee Freedman) and Damian Browne (Quintessential, 2012, John Sargent) are also on the scoreboard.  

OTHER CONNECTIONS 

Around a quarter of a century after partnering Caeneus in the 1953 Oaks, Bruce Freeman became the first and only jockey to reap a Queensland Oaks as a trainer. The feat of the Gold Coast horseman, who spent time riding in Victorian jumps races, was furnished in 1979 by Prunella (VRC Kewney Stakes). 

The Convamore filly was owned by the Dick Roden managed Oak Park Pty Ltd. She was a fussy eater and couldn’t do fast work. An element of her diet was a mix of stout and eggs.

Definate, the son of Prunella’s grand-dam Prujoy, picked up the 1973 AJC Breeders’ Plate, 1974 QTC Sires Produce Stakes and the runner-up cheque in the 1974 AJC Derby.

Peter Moody, who started his career in the Charleville area, landed the 2008 Queensland Oaks-Derby double with Riva San. Jockey Scott Seamer, who resided at Teven in the Northern Rivers, also booted home Sheila Laxon’s charge Ethereal in the 2001 Oaks and the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

Sydney’s triple premier trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith, whose early digs were a caravan at Cairns Racecourse, claimed the QTC Oaks-Derby double in 1988 with Bravery. She was by Zephyr Zip, the colt that Eric Kirwan collected the AJC and QTC Sires Produce Stakes plus the 1979 equivalent to the J.J. Atkins and the QTC Guineas. Stamina came maternally through the impact of Battle-Waggon (GB) and Never Say Die (USA).  

Peter Tighe, a long-time businessman in the fruit and vegetable trade at the Brisbane markets, is the part owner of the 2015 winner Winx. The letter M on the superstar’s silks represented his Magic Bloodstock racing banner.

Tony and Julie Brown bred the 2015 winner Egg Tart at their Jorson Farm near Wondai in the South Burnett.

They paid $21,000 at a 2013 Inglis Broodmare market for her dam Mrs Windsor when the daughter of Born To Be Queen (AJC The Metropolitan and placed in VRC Derby, VRC Oaks) was pregnant to Sebring.

Anton Koolman, head of Hermitage Thoroughbreds, paid $40,000 for Egg Tart. She was a late foal born on November 21, 2013 and was named after a Chinese dessert.

Crystal Palace, the 1997 Oaks heroine for rider Brian York and Kiwi conditioner Steve Autridge, was Queensland-owned through Jon and Dianne Haseler’s Glenlogan Park No 2 Syndicate   

The current Oaks title holder is the Kermadec filly Amokura. She is trained by Kris Lees, the Newcastle horseman whose father Max developed her ancestor Luskin Star into a household name. The 1977 QTC Sires Produce Stakes and Marlboro Stakes were two of the chestnut’s 13 scintillating black-type victories. 

Luskin Star’s potent sire Kaoru Star was a youngster prepared by Athol and Doris Strong’s son Neil. Zasu (1975 QTC Queensland Oaks, runner-up AJC Oaks) was one of the brilliant Brisbane entire’s 36 stakeswinners.

Amokura is a place in the Marlborough district of New Zealand and also the name of a three-masted barquentine that the government acquired in 1906.

A destination for the naval training ship was the Kermadec Islands group that lies around 900km north-east of New Zealand.  

The analysis of a multitude of Queensland Oaks results has gleaned that many on the honour board had lineage well suited to the assignment.

Given its relationship with so many editions of the Oaks, the Darling Downs could be described as a notably fertile hub. 

The Oaks, which has been over 2200m since 2017, will be sustained as long as there are patient supporters who invest in their dreams. There is no sign of a shortage at present.