Leading Queensland trainer Robert Heathcote faces a tough decision on which Group 1 classic to target his smart Bianconi filly Fillydelphia for this Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, the three-year-old well liked in the markets for both the Derby and Oaks next month.

A winner of five of her 14 starts to date, Fillydelphia burst into contention for an elite level win this season after her impressive three length victory in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2020m) at Doomben on BTC Cup Day a fortnight ago.

The win came after she’d failed to come within six lengths when 12^th to Chateau Fort in the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm on April 30, showing Heathcote she had come on well and enjoyed racing without blinkers.

Heathcote must now decide whether to keep Fillydelphia against her own company and tackle the $400,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 4 or pit her against the colts and geldings in the following week’s $500,000 Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m).

Fillydelphia is third favourite in the early Oaks markets paying $6 behind in-form Kiwi filly Scarlett Lady ($3.50) and the John Sadler-trained Heidilicious ($5.50).

She is at slightly longer odds for the Derby sitting on the fourth line of betting at $11 in markets lead by Graeme Rogerson’s Duelled gelding and Doomben Cup fourth placegetter Shootoff ($5.50).

Although Heathcote has not nominated Fillydelphia for the Queensland Derby, connections may be tempted to pay the $22,000 late entry fee if she shows she has improved enough to race competitively in open company for the Derby by winning the $150,000 Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) on Doomben 10,000 Day this Saturday.

“She couldn’t run in both the Oaks and the Derby as it’d be three weeks in a row she would have raced,” Heathcote said.

Due to be ridden by Larry Cassidy, Fillydelphia has drawn barrier 14 in the capacity Grand Prix Stakes field and will get the chance to show her form against a number of other Queensland Derby hopefuls including the Peter Snowden-trained colt Peck and Chateau Fort who ran third in the Rough Habit last start.

Trainer of Chateau Fort, Paul Messara, blamed the smart colt’s defeat at the hands of Fillydelphia in the Rough Habit on his awkward barrier nine draw and is out to turn the tables this weekend.

“He was beaten by the barrier,” Messara said.

“Having to make a mid-race move probably took a bit away from his finish.

“He still hit the line well but wasn’t able to sprint like he normally can.”

Messara was disappointed when Chateau Fort came up with the same barrier nine draw for the Grand Prix Stakes, but they may get the chance to move in with fifth emergency Saneyev – allocated barrier six – not gaining a start.

“Hopefully this weekend we can slot in and put him to sleep so he can finish off,” Messara said.

Larry Cassidy rode Fillydelphia for her opening three starts this prep, but was replaced by Luke Nolen for the Rough Habit Plate.

“Larry has won on her four times and will be back on her in the Grand Prix,” Heathcote said.

“It was a tough decision to take Larry off her last start, but I only did it as a means of looking to change our luck.”

Heathcote is admittedly impressed with the quality of the fillies this season who are on way to the Oaks.

“I was very impressed with Scarlett Lady when she won The Roses on Saturday and I think the fillies have it over the boys this year,” he said.

“If that’s the case then it’s going to be hard to beat Scarlett Lady in the Queensland Oaks.

“The Oaks looks like being a tougher race than the Derby.”

Fillydelphia was one of 21 first acceptors for the Queensland Oaks on Wednesday along with stablemate Hidden Kisses.

After running seventh in The Roses behind Scarlett Lady last weekend, Hidden Kisses is rated a $31 chance for the Oaks.

2011 Grand Prix Stakes Field & Barriers

#	Form (Last 10)	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight Hcp. Rating
1	1X45X14132	ECHOES OF HEAVEN	Mick Price	Dwayne Dunn	20	56kg	90
2	45148X6025	EQUISSENTIAL	Neville O Saunders	Phillip Wolfgram	1	56kg	–
3	511105X862	HOUR OF PERIL	John P Thompson	Jim Byrne	15	56kg	78
4	3X1113	CHATEAU FORT	Paul Messara	Glen Colless	9	56kg	81
5	2120X21922	TURNITUP	Peter G Moody	Luke Nolen	13	56kg	74
6	38X03X0200	LEVI’S CHOICE	John P Thompson	Scott Galloway	18	56kg	77
7	4231X23211	MR LIGHT BLUE	Barry Baldwin	Timothy Bell (a)	16	56kg	–
8	16X113	LEADING (NZ)	John O’Shea	Brenton Avdulla	3	56kg	72
9	54441X1014	PLAYACTION	David Peoples	Glyn Schofield	2	56kg	73
10	21317X0059	SATCH	Bruce W Hill	Paul Hammersley	7	56kg	67
11	599396X326	ALMA’S FURY	Paul Murray	Hugh Bowman	17	56kg	70
12	137X15	THE CHEVRON (NZ)	John Sadler	Steven Arnold	8	56kg	68
13	6X213X156	PECK	Peter Snowden	Corey Brown	12	56kg	68
14	3X3971108	UNDERTHEBONNET	Steele Ryan	Shane Scriven	4	56kg	66
15	475X412224	ENDOR (NZ)	Graeme & Debbie Rogerson	Chris Munce	5	56kg	68
16	11L16X4001	FILLYDELPHIA	Robert Heathcote	Larry Cassidy	14	54kg	88
17e	51149X073	MAN FROM OZ	Kelso Wood	Chris Munce	11	56kg	–
18e	100X475920	QUARTERBAR	Michael Moroney	Chad Ormsby	21	56kg	66
19e	5X62182	LAUDIT	John Symons & Sheila Laxon	Scott Seamer	19	56kg	65
20e	1X572X7261	FIVES’A DIAMOND (NZ)	Allan Sharrock	–	10	56kg	67
21e	226X844	SANEYEV	Tony Vasil	–	6	56kg	–