Month-by-month since February, the Australian 3-year-old Philia has compiled a four-race winning streak that has made her the favorite to win Friday’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm Racecourse.
Philia won a maiden race at 6 3/4 furlongs in her third start in February, a minor handicap at a mile in March, her stakes debut in the Princess Stakes in April, and her group stakes debut in the Group 2 The Roses Stakes on May 24.
The $456,600 Queensland Oaks is run at 1 3/8 miles and represents a test of stamina and class. Philia, trained by David Vandyke, has the benefit of not facing division leader Treasurethe Moment, a multiple Group 1 winner.
Philia starts from post 16 in a field of 18. She tends to run near the front, but has won as a stalker.
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Philia was the 7-2 favorite in early betting on Thursday. Benagil (9-2) and Pinito (5-1) have finished behind Philia in recent starts, but have also won important races of late.
Benagil, who runs from off the pace, was second to Treasurethe Moment in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney on April 1, and won the Group 1 Australasian Oaks at 1 1/4 miles at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide on April 26. In The Roses Stakes, Benagil raced in traffic twice, including with a furlong remaining, and finished 10th of 16 as the 5-2 favorite.
Pinito was second to Philia in the Princess Stakes, and won the Bracelet Stakes on heavy turf at Gold Coast Racecourse near Brisbane on May 10.
The Queensland Oaks was intended to be the primary race on Friday’s program, but is one of three Group 1 races. Last weekend, the Eagle Farm program was canceled after five races because of excessive rain and poor visibility.
Because of the cancellation, the $652,300 Kingsford Smith Cup at 6 1/2 furlongs and $652,300 Queensland Derby at 1 1/2 miles are part of Friday’s program.
The speedy gelding Rise at Dawn can provide an upset in the Kingsford Smith Cup.
Rise at Dawn was 14-1 in early betting on Thursday, an outsider compared to runners such as 7-5 favorite Joliestar or 3-1 Giga Kick, who are also easy to like.
Rise at Dawn, trained by Ben, Will and J.D. Hayes, has yet to win at the highest level, and has drawn the inside post.
The Kingsford Smith Cup is a shorter race than Rise at Dawn’s last two starts, both Group 1 races at a mile – a sixth-place finish by four lengths in the $1.58 million All-Star Mile at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on March 8, and a fourth-place finish by slightly less than a half-length in the $2.51 million Doncaster Mile at Royal Randwick in Sydney on April 5.
In his last start in a sprint, Rise at Dawn won the minor Elms Handicap at seven furlongs at Flemington on Feb. 15, his third consecutive win.
Joliestar will be favored in the Kingsford Smith Cup on the strength of a good second by a half-length in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes at seven furlongs at Randwick on April 19. A closer, Joliestar won the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap at six furlongs at Flemington on March 8.
Giga Kick was third by 1 1/4 lengths in the Group 1 Goodwood Stakes at six furlongs at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide on May 10 in his first start since November. Giga Kick closed from 12th of 13 in the Goodwood Stakes and was the 11-10 favorite.
The Queensland Derby will have a full field of 18, but lacks a clear favorite.
Arguments can be made on behalf of Belle Détente, Femminile, King of Thunder and Statuario.
Femminile and Statuario were first and second by three-quarters of a length in the Group 1 South Australian Derby at 1 9/16 miles at Morphettville on May 3. Femminile, a filly, was 18-1 in that race. She was 9-1 for the Queensland Derby on Thursday, with Statuario a modest favorite at 5-1.
Eagle Farm’s program begins at 9:08 p.m. Eastern or 6:08 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
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