Trainer Nick Ryan remains in pursuit of his first Group 1 victory and enters the Queensland Oaks knowing he has a horse peaking at the right time.
While the barrier draw, 17 in the 23-horse field following acceptances for the 2200m race at Eagle Farm on Saturday may not be ideal, Belle Savoir comes into gate 13 if the emergencies do not gain a start.
“That’s out of my control but I know one thing, she’ll be strong at the end,” Ryan said.
Belle Savoir rounded off her preparation for the Queensland Oaks finishing second to fellow Victorian Barb Raider in the Group 2 The Roses (2100m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
The Roses was held over a week from the washed-out Doomben meeting on May 21 which Ryan felt at the time was not ideal, but in hindsight may prove a blessing in disguise.
“She travelled up from Melbourne really well and she went to Eagle Farm on the first Tuesday she was here and had a gallop with Zaaki,” Ryan said.
“So, with the races being called off that probably held her in good stead for The Roses.
“In between that gallop and the run on Saturday, I didn’t need to do much with her, and she’s really come on and the longer we’ve been up the better she’s been.”
One concern Ryan had ahead of last week’s race was the filly not racing for four weeks and stepping up from 1600m to 2100m.
Ryan was also mindful there was only a week between The Roses and the Queensland Oaks.
“We weren’t quite sure where she was at, but I couldn’t be happier with the way she went,” Ryan said.
Ryan Maloney again takes the ride on Saturday having ridden the filly for the first-time last week and Belle Savoir is an $11 chance with TAB following Tuesday’s barrier draw.
Local galloper Gypsy Goddess, from the David Vandyke stable, heads the betting at $3.70, but jumps from the second widest gate having drawn barrier 22.
She heads the market from last start Rosehill winner Aravene ($4.60) and Barb Raider ($10).
