By Dane Squance
Second in the 2000-metre G1 Schweppes Oaks when flying late behind Sopressa (Aus) (So You Think {NZ}), the Matthew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained Sheezdashing (Aus) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) looks as if she will relish the step up to 2200m of Saturday's G1 Queensland Oaks. Always just appearing to find one a little better on the day, jockey Daniel Thornton sticks with the filly and from barrier three, should be able to possibly settle a little handier than normal.
Impressive in the tradition Oaks lead-up, the G2 The Roses, Chris Waller's Youngstar (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}) put the writing on the wall with her length win over stablemate Another Dollar (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) and looks very hard to beat here. Never outside of the top three in her six starts to date, Another Dollar was forced to travel wide for a portion of The Roses before run down late by her stablemate, and with a better run in transit will finish closer.
Successful in her last two starts at Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast, the New Zealand raider Terra Sancta (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}) looks capable of giving her sire his third Classic winner of the season and with her last start coming just six days prior, the Tony Pike-trained filly will surely have race fitness on her side.
Following a somewhat obscure path to Saturday's Oaks, John Sargent's Tinkermosa (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}) is bound to be tuned right to the minute for the 2200m, and with a narrow second over 2150m at her most recent run on May 16, the Jeff Lloyd-ridden filly is bred to be a player in the race.
With five in the field, Waller will provide many of the leading chances, and one of his roughest will be the well-bred Impulsive (Aus) (So You Think {NZ}), a winner last Saturday at the Gold Coast over 1800m, and although a half-sister to a champion South African sprinter, she is clearly throwing towards her sire.
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