Australia: Upwardly mobile Media Award dangerous in Queensland Oaks

There was nothing in Media Award’s race record in Australia last November and December to suggest she would be part of a field of 14 in Saturday’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane.

Media Award was eighth, second and third in maiden races before she was given a three-month break between starts. Media Award has not lost since, winning a maiden race at Kyneton on March 29, a handicap at Geelong on April 20, and the Group 1 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville in a 60-1 upset on May 1.

As of Thursday, Media Award was 8-1 for the $458,900 Queensland Oaks, and she is one of several fillies with a leading chance along with Bargain, Grace and Harmony, Duais and Only Words. All of those fillies have solid group-level stakes form this year.

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Media Award, trained by Chris Calthorpe, will be ridden for the first time by John Allen and will race from a stalking position from a favorable start in post 5.

Bargain is likely to be favored. She was 7-2 as of Thursday for the Queensland Oaks, run at 1 3/8 miles.

Bargain and Only Words were first and second in the Group 2 The Roses Stakes at 1 3/8 miles at Doomben Racecourse on May 22. On April 17, Bargain was third behind Hungry Heart and Dumais in the Group 1 ATC Oaks at 1 1/2 miles at Royal Randwick Racecourse. Hungry Heart won her third consecutive group stakes in the ATC Oaks, and has not started since.

Grace and Harmony was sixth as the 5-2 favorite in The Roses Stakes, beaten 3 3/4 lengths, but won the Gold Coast Bracelet Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on May 8 for her third consecutive victory and first stakes win.

Duais had a two-race winning streak end in the ATC Oaks. A winner of 3 of 9 starts, Duais won the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Randwick on April 10, beating Bargain. Those fillies had a seven-day turnaround to the ATC Oaks, but have had much more time between starts in advance of the Queensland Oaks.

The Queensland Oaks is part of a nine-race program at Eagle Farm that begins at 9:29 p.m., Eastern, or 6:29 p.m., Pacific, on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.