Improving filly Rebel Rama will produce one of the feelgood stories of the Brisbane winter carnival if she can upset her higher-profile rivals in the Queensland Oaks.
Prepared by Marc Conners, who has just 18 horses in work at Warwick Farm, Rebel Rama will be Mikayla Weir’s first Group One ride, just four months after she graduated to the senior jockey ranks.
While Conners has had his share of runners in major races over the years, including 1996 Queensland Oaks placegetter Aphasia, he is thrilled to give Weir her maiden opportunity.
“It is a big thrill (for Weir). I think she is the sort of person who can handle it,” Conners said.
“She is a very talented rider and we’ve had a lot of luck with her over the past 12 months or even two years. She rode the horse exactly how we wanted last start and she won and I had no reason to take her off.”
Having another Group 1 runner is also a satisfying achievement for Conners.
On Saturday, he will be up against the might of Tulloch Lodge, leading Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan and Chris Waller, who saddles up six of the 13 runners.
Given the Queensland classic is also his Plan B after Rebel Rama was balloted out of a lead-up race to the Australasian Oaks, forcing him to change course, Conners is thrilled to be part of the big race action.
“It’s hard to get into these races and it is very satisfying,” Conners said.
“There’s a great bunch of owners (involved) and a lot of them are going to come up on the weekend and soak up the experience.”
Rebel Rama is up in grade after motoring home from near-last on the turn to finish third over 1880m at Newcastle then showing grit and determination to beat Maranoa over 2000m at Rosehill last start.
But having been involved with the preparations of previous Queensland Oaks winners Allow (2006) and Zagalia (2003), who were trained by his father Clarry, Conners believes Rebel Rama has the right qualities to be competitive on Saturday.
“They’re different types of horses. This filly is probably taller than both of them, and she is probably as tough as them,” Conners said.
“It’s not that she grinds but she just keeps coming and that’s a great asset she’s got. I think the 2200 will be right up her alley.”
The Chris Calthorpe-trained Media Award has failed a preliminary vet inspection and will be reassessed on Friday to see if she is fit to take her place.
