Mark Newnham’s consistent filly Bargain has shot to the top of the 2021 Queensland Oaks betting markets for this weekend after coming up trumps with barrier four in the 14-starter field at Eagle Farm.

Australasian Oaks winner Media Award is in Brisbane chasing the 2021 Queensland Oaks victory this weekend. Photo: Jenny Barnes.

The Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival continues at the Farm on Saturday with the action headlined by the $600,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m).

It is shaping up as an open and intriguing edition of the staying showdown with six of the 14 final acceptors under single-figures in the post-acceptance Queensland Oaks odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.

New favourite at a current quote of $4.80 is Ocean Park filly Bargain chasing her first win since a Class 1 at Wyong in late February.

She’s been racing very well in tougher company this campaign including her close third in the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) at Randwick in April.

Bargain was last seen running in the traditional Queensland Oaks lead-up at Doomben on May 22 when finishing just over a length back second in the Group 2 The Roses (2000m).

Looking well suited to the step-up in distance and drawn to get the run of the race with Joshua Parr retaining the ride, Bargain could be a hard to beat favourite on Saturday.

Close second elect occupying the second line of Queensland Oaks betting this season at $5 is another ATC Oaks graduate, runner-up Duais racing for the first time since that ‘The Championships’ showdown.

Jockey Hugh Bowman continues his association on the Edward Cummings-trained Shamus Award filly having been aboard for her three latest starts.

Bowman’s record on Duais is solid with two wins – including the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) over Bargain (2^nd) – and the ATC Oaks second.

The top jockey chases his third Queensland Oaks victory following earlier wins aboard Vitesse Dane (2005) and the mighty Winx (2015).

Also being kept safe at $6.50 is the Chris Waller-trained third favourite Grace And Harmony drawn barrier three with the season’s leading Group 1 winning jockey James McDonald in the saddle.

Waller has dominated the recent Queensland Oaks results with three wins in the past six years (without an Queensland Oaks in 2020) thanks to the aforementioned Winx (2015) followed by Egg Tart (2017) and Youngstar (2018).

The master Sydney-based horseman has a strong hand in this year’s Queensland Oaks field saddling-up six of the 14 starters.

Grace And Harmony is tipped as the most likely to hand him another win following the Sebring filly’s luckless sixth in The Roses when racing wide throughout.

Waller took out The Roses with Only Words and she too backs-up in the Queensland Oaks, the nicely-bred daughter of Sweynesse drawn wide in gate 13 with Craig Williams in the saddle.

Only Words pays $8 to complete The Roses – Queensland Oaks double most recently achieved by the fellow Waller-trained Youngstar (2018), an equal quote with her stablemate Charms Star.

Kiwi-bred Per Incanto filly Charms Star was runner-up in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) back in March before making her Australian race debut for an eye-catching third in The Roses.

Just one and a half lengths beaten there, she should be fitter for the run and better suited to the 2200m on the weekend jumping from gate barrier six with Kerrin McEvoy riding.

Rounding out the single-figure fancies in this year’s Queensland Oaks field at $9 is then the talented Chris Calthorpe-trained Media Award.

She comes off three straight wins including her claim to fame when taking out Adelaide’s Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at 60/1 a month ago.

Egg Tart (2017) was the last filly to complete the Australasian Oaks – Queensland Oaks double.

Click here for the latest Queensland Oaks 2021 betting odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2021 Queensland Oaks Field & Barriers

   Table Credit: Racing Australia.