Australia: Aravene on a roll heading into Queensland Oaks

At the beginning of May, Aravene was days removed from a fifth-place finish in a sprint handicap at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia.
A month later, her status in that country has change remarkably. Aravene is a key contestant in Saturday’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane.

A perfect campaign in May altered the outlook. Trained by Caroline Jennings, Aravene won a handicap for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on May 11 and a handicap against 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney on May 21.
The $508,200 Queensland Oaks at 1 3/8 miles will be her group stakes debut. Brett Prebble, who was aboard for the win at Sandown, will ride Aravene, who has her stakes debut in the Queensland Oaks.

A winner of 3 of 6 starts, Aravene was the 4-1 second choice in early betting Thursday behind Gypsy Goddess, who has won 5 of 8 starts but has lost her last three races, all in stakes.

A New Zealand-bred, Gypsy Goddess was second in the Group 1 ATC Oaks at 1 1/2 miles at Royal Randwick Racecourse on April 9, and second as the even-money favorite in her most recent start, the Bracelet Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Gold Coast Racecourse on May 7.

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The Bracelet Stakes was won by Dynasties, who is part of the Queensland Oaks field, but is rated as a longshot. Dynasties finished 10th of 11 in a handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Rosehill Gardens on May 21 following the win in the Bracelet.

The Queensland Oaks will suit Barb Raider, Belle Savoir, and Smirk, the first three finishers of the local prep – the Group 2 The Roses Stakes at 1 5/16 miles at Eagle Farm on May 28. The three were separated by heads.

Eagle Farm has a 10-race program beginning at 9:08 p.m. Eastern, or 6:08 p.m. Pacific, on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.