Promising filly I Walk The Line takes her next step down the Queensland Oaks path in the Group Three Doomben Roses on Saturday.
Trainer Pat Webster made the decision before Christmas to test I Walk The Line as a candidate for the Group One Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on June 4 by sending her to Brisbane following an 1800m maiden victory at Rosehill on December 8.
His punt with I Walk The Line paid off when she strolled to victory by more than five lengths in a 2020m open three-year-old race at Doomben.
Webster, who trains in partnership with son Wayne, immediately spelled I Walk The Line to prepare her for a return trip for the Brisbane winter carnival.
After two Sydney runs in the Listed P J Bell Stakes at Canterbury and Listed James Carr at Randwick, I Walk The Line returned to Queensland finishing a close fourth to Divorces in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) on May 7.
Webster was delighted with the filly’s effort considering she hadn’t settled well in prior to her arrival.
However, he has no such concerns now with I Walk The Line who has progressed strongly since her Gold Coast Bracelet defeat.
“She had a good run until the 600 metres in the Bracelet and it may have been a better run if her rider (Tim Clark) had waited longer on her,” Webster said.
“It took her a little longer to settle in and she was a little too fresh.
“She’s shown she can stay and she’s a lot fitter and tougher now.”
Webster has booked Glen Colless to partner I Walk The Line and is banking on his local knowledge to offset the visitor’s draw, barrier 16.
Stablemate Thankgodyou’rehere also drew poorly in barrier 15 in the Group Three BRC Sprint (1350m).
“I can’t take a trick with barriers and it’s out of my hands now,” Webster said.
“I’m disappointed with the draws for both of them and I can’t tell Glen how to ride I Walk The Line from out there.
Thankgodyou’rehere will again be ridden by Rod Quinn who finished a close fourth on the five-year-old in the Listed Prime Minister’s cup (1300m) at the Gold Coast on May 7.
“He’s only got 51.5 kilos in the Stradbroke so he may need to win this race to get a penalty,” Webster said.
“He should have been qualified by now had he not been so mentally immature which delayed the start of his career.”
“We didn’t see the best of him for some reason as he didn’t settle in the Prime Minister’s cup,” he said.
“I noticed he was having a look around so I’m putting winkers on him.”
AAP TURF
