Molly Bloom set to cement Queensland Oaks favouritism

By Glenn Davis

Co-trainer Andrew Scott believes he has the right filly to continue New Zealand’s great record in the Queensland Oaks this winter.

Scott, who trains in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan, will give star Kiwi filly Molly Bloom her final Queensland Oaks dress rehearsal in the Group 2 The Roses at Doomben on Saturday.

Molly Bloom is currently the $4.60 equal favourite in early markets for the Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on June 8.

Molly Boom arrived in Australia with a massive reputation following wins in the Group 1 1000 Guineas at Riccarton last November and a Group 2 victory in the Ellis Fillies Classic at Te Rapa in February.

The daughter of Ace High kicked off her winter campaign in Queensland with an eye-catching second to the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Amazonian Lass in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet over 1800 metres at the Sunshine Coast on May 11.

“She might have run into some ground which was outside her fitness level in the Gold Coast Bracelet,” co-trainer Scott said.

“She got held up a little bit but she hit the line strongly.

“She did a nice piece of work on the Eagle Farm course proper on Tuesday and she puts a lot of energy into her work.

“It indicated she’s going in the right direct and has improved since her last run.”

Molly Bloom has been a stand out of her generation across the Tasman so much so that prominent Australian owner Ozzie Kheir bought into her ownership alongside her existing syndicate of owners.

Molly Bloom was bought for $NZ 150,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling sales and has gone on to win four of her nine starts.

She is out of the Iffraaj mare Dancilla, a half-sister to the dual Group 3 winner Decorah and from the family of the former champion Kiwi galloper Rough Habit, who won three straight Doomben Cups.

New Zealand fillies have a great record in the Queensland Oaks with nine successful since 2000.

The Tony Pike-trained Provocative was the last Kiwi to claim the Queensland Oaks in 2016 while Scott claimed the fillies’ feature in his own right with Miss Keepsake in the 2010.

“When Miss Keepsake won the Queensland Oaks it was 2400 metres but the Oaks has been brought back to 2200, which will help a lot of fillies,” Scott said.

“She’s genetically bred to run a good distance so there’s no worry about her running the Oaks distance.”

Molly Bloom - a Blake Shinn mount - is set to join the Chris Waller stable in Sydney after the Queensland Oaks and is likely to chase a Cups campaign in Melbourne during the spring.