Webb Still Confident of Queensland Oaks 2017 Win With Ana Royale

Caulfield horseman Stuart Webb’s confidence hasn’t been dinted by the move of venues and decrease in distance for the 2017 Queensland Oaks with conditions to still suit his smart filly Ana Royale.

Egg Tart is considered the filly to beat in the 2017 Queensland Oaks on Saturday even with the move to Doomben over the 2200m. Photo: Jenny Barnes.

The controversial track conditions at Eagle Farm Racecourse have forced the move to Doomben Racecourse this weekend for the $500,000 Group 1 Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks, which also runs over 2200m instead of the traditional 2400m.

While Webb would have preferred to stay put at the roomier Eagle Farm course, he believes his daughter of Anacheeva remains a huge winning hope over 2200m in the Group 1.

“I probably would have preferred the bigger Eagle Farm track and the 2400 [metres] than coming back to 2200m at Doomben, but I can’t do anything about it,” Webb told Racing Queensland.

Two back Ana Royale finished under a length away third to the Chris Waller-trained Egg Tart in Adelaide’s Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2010m) as a $20 roughie.

She returned to the Morphettville track last start on May 20 and blitzed a quality field stepping up in distance to take out the Group 3 SA Fillies Classic (2500m) by three lengths.

Waller’s Australasian Oaks winner Egg Tart leads the all-in Queensland Oaks odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $3.20 to post her sixth win on the trot.

Ana Royale occupies the second line of pre-field Queensland Oaks betting at $4.40 and Webb believes she is a deserving top fancy for the event.

“She was highly effective in a Group 1 over 2000 two starts ago so it doesn’t dint my confidence at all,” he said.

“She’s in great order and good form.”

Kenedna ($4.80) is the other best fancied of the current 21 Queensland Oaks first acceptances.

Darren Weir’s flying daughter of Not A Single Doubt has won three of her past four starts including the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) in the wet at Doomben on May 20.

That followed on from her devastatingly close second in the Australasian Oaks and she could prove hard to beat over the 2200m this weekend hitting peak form for her Grand Final test.

Webb and Weir both chase their maiden Queensland Oaks success while Waller is after his second in three years after the win by subsequent Hall of Fame inductee Winx in 2015.

Queensland Oaks 2017 final acceptances close on Wednesday morning at 9:00am (AEST) making now the time to back your early selections at their generous all-in prices now at Ladbrokes.com.au.