Peter Snowden has the Group One Queensland Oaks in sight for Euryale after the filly stepped up with victory at Rosehill on Saturday.
The three-year-old took out the Zac Homes Handicap (1800m) by 3-1/4 lengths over the Chris Waller-trained Lucripetous ($3.40) with favourite Tribal Rock ($2.40) a neck away third.
Snowden’s Sydney foreman Brad Widdup said Euryale ($7) had been showing mixed form but her performance at Rosehill would have impressed Snowden enough to earn a trip to Queensland.
“Pete has been looking at Queensland and that justified it today,” Widdup said.
“She’s been a bit disappointing but Pete has had Queensland in the back of his mind and today was a bit of a tester.”
He said Snowden thought Euryale had been ridden a bit close in her past two starts but jockey Rod Quinn had her relaxed and the filly finished strongly from back in the field.
Euryale is likely to have another start before the Oaks, possibly in a 2000m race in Sydney in a fortnight.
The Queensland Oaks (2400m) is at Eagle Farm on June 2.
Quinn said Euryale would handle the Oaks distance.
“It feels like she will go all day,” Quinn said.
“She ran right through the line and it took forever to pull her up.”
Runner-up Lucripetous is nominated for the Queensland Derby (2400m) on June 9 but Waller said there was still work to be done.
“He ran well, but he’s still a preparation away,” Waller said.
“We’ll just see how he goes in his next start to see if he’s on track for Queensland or not.”
