Youngstar has history against her

In what was a hard fought nail biting finish to the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, the future of the Chris Waller-trained Youngstar looks promising to say the least, if not for one haunting statistic. The last 2 horses to win the race are yet to win a race since, and, with the exclusion of the anomaly Winx, Youngstar may well be doomed.

With both last years winner Egg Tart yet to taste victory since, and the 2016 title holder Provocative racing just once more, you do not have to dig very deep in the past to uncover any other horror stories. 2013 winner Gondokoro is another who couldn’t break through in her 6 starts following, finishing last in 3.

New Zealander Miss Keepsake took out the race in 2010 unfortunately failing to live up to the hype surrounding the 3-year-old Group 1 success. She went on to win just once more in 24 starts, that being a Kembla Grange handicap.

Likewise, 2009 winner Purple would win just once more, much like Riva San who was in fact the last one before Winx to go on to win another Group 1 in Australia after taking out the Queensland Oaks. Much like those after her with limited success, the Queensland Derby was also the only race Riva San would go on to win.

With only 2 of the last 10 Queensland Oaks winners going on to win a Group 1 in Australia, with 3 never winning again, it is a nervous time for connections of Youngstar who will be hoping to avoid the Queensland Oaks curse.

The High Chaparral filly has been nominated for the Queensland Derby over 2200m at Doomben on June 9, hoping to be the first Queensland Oaks winner since 2015 to win another race.