Young jockey Matthew McGillivray enjoyed his first Group 1 success in the Queensland Oaks 2019 partnering the Garry Newham-trained Winning Ways for her brilliant win in the Doomben feature that has put the Caulfield Cup on the radar for her this spring.

It was one of the largest-paying trifectas in Queensland Oaks history with the victorious Declaration Of War filly Winning Ways ($21) beating home two $151 roughies – the Garnett Taylor-trained Dawson Diva (2^nd) from the Sunshine Coast and Chris Waller’s outsider Lady Cuvee.

The first two over the line in the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks (2200m) results franked the form of this season’s Group 2 The Roses, with Winning Ways improving on her lead-up eighth and Falvelon filly Dawson Diva having crossed 11^th in the event on May 18.

The Queensland Oaks result was a fairy-tale for those involved in Winning Ways whose owner Paul Makin, 83, passed away last Friday from a stroke.

“Mate, I’m speechless,” winning hoop McGillivray said post-win.

“I’d just like to thank Garry.

“The owner passed away last Friday…it’s such a great honour.

“My first Group 1. I can’t believe it, it’s surreal.

“Hopefully this’ll take me somewhere and get more opportunities.”

Makin, behind Paulyn’s Investments Pty Ltd who race the Queensland Oaks champion Winning Ways, was best known for his ownership of brilliant stallion Starcraft, also prepared by the Gold Coast-based Newnham.

Starcraft first came onto the scene winning the 2003 AJC Derby and ended his track career as a Group 1 winner across four countries.

As is her style, Winning Ways took a while to wind-up in the Queensland Oaks but she got there when it counted and took out her winter grand final with Makin no doubt watching on from above.

“He’ll be watching it don’t worry about that,” Newham said after the victory.

Newham had been confident all along in his filly’s chances having seen her progression over the past six months, including the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) win at home on a mud track back in early May.

“I told him [Makin] I’d win the Oaks six months ago,” he said.

“He was sort of half-hearted about it until The Roses. He watched The Roses and he said ‘I think you’re right’”.

Winning Ways had no luck from a wide barrier 14 of 16 draw in The Roses but hit the line very well only 2.6 lengths off the winner Etana.

“She stood ‘em up so much ground and she was the best finishing horse in the race,” Newham said of her lead-up run.

As for Newhman’s predictions of McGillivray’s career, the trainer said “he’ll be the leading rider here in Brisbane in a couple of years.”

Winning Ways does not hold an entry for next weekend’s Group 1 $600,000 Queensland Derby (2400m), Newnham not tempted to pay the late entry to run her against the colts and geldings.

Instead he will stick to the original plan to turn her out for a well-earned spell before a spring return that could include a shot at the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 19.

“She’s going to the paddock. She’s going to have a good spell. She’s only had three weeks off in 12 months. And then I will sit down and plan out a map for her,” he said.

“[The Caulfield Cup] is very tempting.

“Until she gets over 2400 and further, you’ll see how good she is.”

Pre-field Caulfield Cup 2019 odds at Ladbrokes.com.au are yet to quote a price on Winning Ways, but the four-year-old boast an excellent record in the mile-and-a-half classic.

To back Winning Ways next race in the spring at the right price, visit Ladbrokes.com.au today.

2019 Queensland Oaks Results & Finishing Order

Doomben Race 8 – 01/06/2019

Finish	#	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Margin	Br.	Wgt.	SP
1	4	WINNING WAYS	Garry Newham	Matthew McGillivray	–	9	56.5kg	$21
2	9	DAWSON DIVA	Garnett Taylor	Ryan Wiggins	0.2L	2	56.5kg	$151
3	14	LADY CUVEE (NZ)	Chris Waller	Robbie Fradd	0.4L	8	56.5kg	$151
4	12	ANGEL OF HEAVEN	Kris Lees	Larry Cassidy	1.15L	3	56.5kg	$16
5	2	ALIFEROUS	Kris Lees	Brenton Avdulla	1.9L	10	56.5kg	$9
6	1	PRINCESS JENNI (NZ)	David Brideoake	Damien Oliver	2.65L	7	56.5kg	$2.60F
7	8	WELSH LEGEND	Chris Waller	Blake Shinn	2.85L	15	56.5kg	$17
8	13	SAVIGNE	Chris Waller	Brad Stewart	3.05L	14	56.5kg	$41
9	5	PINMEDOWN (NZ)	Michael Moroney	Michael Walker	3.25L	4	56.5kg	$61
10	6	ROSENDAHL RED	Matt Kropp	James Orman	4L	13	56.5kg	$201
11	10	IN GOOD HEALTH	John Ramsey	Mark Du Plessis	4.4L	11	56.5kg	$301
12	11	DUNLANI	Matt Cumani	Jordan Childs	4.8L	1	56.5kg	$21
13	15	OUR INTRIGUE (NZ)	Tony Pike	Leith Innes	4.9L	6	56.5kg	$21
14	16	DUCHESS OF LENNOX (NZ)	Chris Waller	Corey Brown	6.9L	16	56.5kg	$16
15	17e	ON THE WHITE TURF (NZ)	Richard & Michael Freedman	James McDonald	7L	12	56.5kg	$18
16	3	ETANA	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	John Allen	8.25L	5	56.5kg	$4.20
–	20e	MRS MADRID	Anthony Cummings	–	–	0	–	–
–	21e	RE EDIT	Chris Waller	–	–	0	–	–
–	19e	GRAND BOUQUET (NZ)	Kris Lees	–	–	0	–	–
–	7	BELLE ROC (NZ)	Brian Smith	Scott Galloway	–	0	–	–
–	18e	ITZ LILY	Kris Lees	Corey Brown	–	0	–	–