Dear Demi sustained a long run to win The Roses at Doomben but it was runner-up Gondokoro who produced the outstanding Queensland Oaks trial.
Ridden by Luke Nolen, Dear Demi ($4) managed to cling on from the fast-finishing Gondokoro ($13) to win by a short head with Vaquera ($26) a long neck away third.
Dear Demi - Photo by Daniel Costello
In a dramatic sequel to The Roses, Gondokoro’s jockey Rhys McLeod fired in a protest against Dear Demi’s rider Luke Nolen, alleging interference at the 1500 metres.
“I brushed the rail for a good 20 metres, lost two lengths and we’ve been beaten a head,” McLeod told stewards.
“If we’d been able to race that two lengths handier we win the race for sure.”
Gondokoro’s trainer Pat Carey was adamant the interference was the difference between winning and losing.
“Without the interference the right winner would have been Gondokoro,” Carey said.
“We’re talking about a short head margin at the finish.”
Nolen rejected the evidence of McLeod and insisted Dear Demi had not deviated from her position three horses away from the fence when the scrimmage occured.
“It’s evident my horse doesn’t get inside the three wide line and I believe the result should stand,” he said.
After deliberating for several mintues, stewards dismissed the protest, telling McLeod the interference suffered by Gondokoro was mostly caused by another runner Fantisha who was racing between the pair at the time.
“You do receive tightening but we don’t feel that shift in is as a result of Dear Demi shifting ground,” chief steward Wade Birch said.
“We feel the racing manners of Fantisha has contributed to the inteference to your mount.”
Carey said Gondokoro would appreciate the extra 400 metres in the Group One Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on June 1 and said he was confident of turning the tables on Dear Demi.
“She’s a big track horse and considering she was a month between runs she’s going to be much better suited in the Oaks,” he said.
Dale Harris, stable foreman for trainer Clarry Conners, lauded the performance of Dear Demi who was forced to make a long run from the 700 metres.
“She hasn’t had a lot of luck with bad barriers but she’s a filly who never stops trying,” he said.
“Our plan today was to try and be positive and ride her a bit closer but when that didn’t pan out Luke switched to Plan B and rode for luck which came our way.”
