McEvoy to put Youngstar through paces before blinkers decision Oaks plan gets a tweak
KERRIN McEvoy will ride Youngstar tomorrow morning in a gallop that will determine if the ruling favourite wears blinkers in Saturday’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks.
Youngstar worked in blinkers at the Gold Coast on Saturday and trainer Chris Waller is yet to be sold on whether it’s the right thing to do by putting them on race day.
“I just wanted to get an idea whether we put blinkers on Youngstar, because Kerrin ( McEvoy) thought there was a little bit more there ( after winning the Roses on her),” Waller said on Radio TAB’s Past the Post yesterday.
“We put them on in the gallop ( on Saturday) but the feedback I got was that she was a bit keen in them.
Kerrin is going to go up and ride her ( tomorrow) and we will make a final decision then.”
Youngstar worked with Another Dollar, a filly Waller says is due for a change of luck this weekend.
“She’s had no luck at all. That’s an understatement. Barrier draws have cruelled her.
“If she can get a gate, she will be in the race for sure,” he said.
“Youngstar has won three in a row and winning with a bit of arrogance.
“To go from a provincial winner to Group 2 winner in one start takes a lot of talent, so I’d have a slight leaning to Youngstar, providing they both draw next to each other, but Another Dollar will keep her honest.”
The Oaks has added interest with the presence of Group 1 winner Aloisia, who was submitted into the field on Thursday after connec- tions missed the first acceptance deadline last Wednesday.
The JJ Atkins picture for the Waller stable will become clearer this week, with The Autumn Sun ( Sydney), Zousain and Lean Machine ( BRC Sires) all running.
“To tell you the truth, the three horses I think are Group 1 horses and they will hit their peaks as three year olds, hence the reason why they have been targeted up here,” Waller said.
“You’d have to say Zousain is a bit sharper than the other two at the moment and has race experience. But Lean Mean Machine had no luck at the Coast and his run had a lot or merit.
“If you could see him getting a nice run midfield, he will have a better turn of foot.”
Waller said Doomben Cup runners Comin’ Through, Tom Melbourne and Life Less Ordinary will spell, but Satono Rasen and possibly Egg Tart will run next in the O’Shea Stakes at Caloundra on June 2.
Anthony Freedman’s Japanese import Ambitious will possibly stay in training for the Brisbane Cup on June 9.