Australia; Affaire A Suivre eyes second Group 1 victory in Queensland Oaks

On March 31, the New Zealand-bred filly Affaire A Suivre won the fourth start of her career in a maiden race at Cranbourne Racecourse in Australia.

Three months later, Affaire A Suivre may be on the cusp of becoming a multiple Group 1 winner.

The maiden race win was the start of an active three-race winning streak that includes the Group 1 Australian Oaks at 1 1/4 miles at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide on April 29. The win has made Affaire A Suivre the second choice at 7-2 in early betting for the Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane on Friday night.

The $460,250 Queensland Oaks is run at 1 3/8 miles, a new distance for Affaire A Suivre. A closer, Affaire A Suivre has handled longer distances through the winning streak. Following the maiden race, she won the Port Adelaide Guineas in her first start 1 1/8 miles. In the Australian Oaks, Affaire A Suivre closed from seventh of 16 to win by a neck over She’s Fit, a multiple stakes winner.

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Affaire A Suivre, trained by the high-profile partnership of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, will be ridden by John Allen, who has been aboard the filly for her last two wins. Affaire A Suivre breaks from post 13 in a full field of 18 in the Queensland Oaks.

Affaire A Suivre is one of several New Zealand-bred contenders in the Queensland Oaks along with Proscenium Arch, Renaissance Woman, and Sakura Girl.

Renaissance Woman was the 5-2 favorite in early betting on Thursday.

Trained by Bjorn Baker, Renaissance Woman won the Bracelet Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Sunshine Coast Racecourse on May 6, but was second to Fireburn in a key prep for the Queensland Oaks – the Group 2 Roses Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Doomben Racecourse on May 20.

Fireburn was the early favorite for the Queensland Oaks, but was withdrawn on veterinary advice on Thursday. Fireburn is best known for winning the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds in March 2022, a six-furlong race worth $3.69 million.

Eagle Farm has a nine-race program on Friday evening beginning at 9:43 p.m. Eastern or 6:43 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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