Scone trainer Brett Cavanough will cut into his Hong Kong holiday to monitor whether he has a genuine Queensland Oaks hopeful in Gem Dealer who runs at Eagle Farm.
Gem Dealer’s recent strong form has earned her a crack at Saturday’s Group Three Gunsynd Classic (1600m).
Her effort on Saturday will tell whether she stays in Brisbane for a 2019 Queensland Oaks campaign or heads home for lesser races.
Cavanough decided to give Gem Dealer her chance at Eagle Farm after she ran third in the Toowoomba Guineas (1600m) on April 6.
“I don’t know if she is up to Group Three class let alone Group Ones,” Cavanough said.
“But her Toowoomba run was good. She was a bit flat going up the hill there but she really got to the line well.
“It did indicate she has a bit of class and should stay.
“You have to give them a chance and the Oaks has been in my mind for a while. We were going to run in the Gold Coast Bracelet on Saturday week but that would have been a month between runs,” Cavanough said.
“I am headed to Hong Kong to watch the big races and a bit of a break. But I will be cutting into the holiday to watch her and get a report on the run.”
Jeff Lloyd who rode Gem Dealer at Toowoomba has elected to stick with her on Saturday.
Cavanough has had early Queensland carnival success with two-year-old filly Longbottom who is headed to the Scone Classic in a fortnight.
