Kris Lees filly You Wahng claims Queensland Oaks after marathon float trip
Recent floods nearly left You Wahng stranded in NSW, but the Kris Lees filly overcame travel challenges to take out the Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm.
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Kris Lees-trained filly You Wahng was lucky to be even running in Saturday's Queensland Oaks (2200m), let alone winning the Group 1 at Eagle Farm.
But that's exactly what she did in a stirring performance, although it nearly didn't happen because of the recent floods on the NSW Mid North Coast.
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Lees said it took a marathon 16 hours of travel, comprising two trips, to even get the filly to Brisbane and didn't the waiting game pay off.
In an exciting fight to the line, $19 chance You Wahng held on grimly to defeat the James Cummings-trained Pinito ($6), with Group 1 Australasian Oaks champion Benagil a distant third in the $700,000 contest for 3YO fillies.
• What the jockeys said: 2025 Queensland Oaks
'There were floods at Taree so I had to spend the night at Armidale and then come across,' a jubilant Lees said.
'Each trip was like eight hours, so it was two lots of eight hours just to get here (to Brisbane).
'It doubled the travelling time.
'She was very stirred up in The Roses (at Doomben) and I thought 'oh we're off here' and I was thinking she'd be going to the paddock.
'But she actually ran super and came out of it well so she's a tough filly.' â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025
You Wahng finished a creditable fifth in The Roses (2000m) on May 24 in a Group 2 race won by Queensland Oaks favourite Philia, who struggled to cope with the extra 200m on Saturday.
Philia dropped out to finish eighth, ending her four-race winning streak, after starting as the $4.20 favourite.
• Dale ponders shot at Stradbroke with Front Page
Lees admitted he was a little surprised at the victory, although he knew You Wahng was capable of an upset following her excellent third in the Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 12 behind super filly Treasurethe Moment and Sun 'N' Sand.
When You Wahng finished last in the Listed The Coast at Gosford last month, Lees wasn't exactly brimming with confidence.
'Look we lost confidence after she went to Gosford for a prep run to get her back on track but she was a bit plain,' he said.
• Sunrays ends stellar campaign as trainer resists Group 1 lure
'(Jockey) Andrew Gibbons suggested putting a tongue-tie on and she's reacted really well to that.
'It was a lovely ride from Tommy. He was able to get us straight across from the gate and got into a lovely position in running.
'He had a lot of horse coming to the corner, but I was always just a little guarded that last furlong when she presented, but she was able to find under pressure.
'She probably got to him a bit early in The Roses, so Tommy was adamant we just needed to hold her up for a furlong sprint and he produced her at the right time today.
'She looked the winner a long way from home.
'She was on her last legs late but she found something extra under pressure so that was very pleasing.'
You Wahng will now head to the paddock for a 'well-deserved' spell.
'That's her first city win, actually,' Lees said.
'She'll have a well-deserved rest because she's had a good prep. She's been up all throughout and we thought after the Oaks in Sydney we were a chance and she's delivered.'
Originally published as You Wahng claims Queensland Oaks after marathon float trip Horse Racing
David Payne, renowned for his unconventional training methods, once again demonstrated his expertise as Shohisha claimed an upset victory at Randwick. Horse Racing
Trainer Matt Dale faces a tough decision on whether to give Moreton Cup winner Front Page a crack at the Stradbroke Handicap or send the veteran sprinter for a spell.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Australian
3 hours ago
- The Australian
Joliestar storms home in Kingsford Smith Cup to deny local fairtyale
The legend of Chris Waller went to a new level as the champion trainer combined with James McDonald to narrowly deny an extraordinary Queensland fairytale at Eagle Farm. Joliestar snatched victory from the jaws of almost certain defeat in the Kingsford Smith Cup to mow down Tony Gollan's Queensland bolter Zarastro and deny jockey Angela Jones her maiden Group 1. It gave Waller his 19th Group 1 of the season, breaking his previous record for the most Group 1 winners in a season in Australia. It was also the first time a female horse had won the Kingsford Smith since Sea Siren saluted in 2012 and Black Caviar a year earlier. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! But this was a race that was about far more than raw statistics. Just about everyone seemed to have it pegged as a clash between Newmarket Handicap champion Joliestar and Giga Kick, the former The Everest champion. But no-one told young Queensland jockey Jones, riding in just her third Group 1 race and only partnering Gollan-trained Zarastro because the race had been rescheduled from the washout a week earlier. • What the jockeys said: 2025 Kingsford Smith Cup Zarastro, having his first lash at a Group 1, fought like a caged tiger to head off a challenge from Golden Mile and he looked to be heading for an incredible triumph. Then came Joliestar from so far back that even McDonald thought it was a near impossibility, snatching an incredible last gasp win. Joliestar will almost certainly not contest next Saturday's Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, with owner Brendan Lindsay saying it's not on the cards. Sights will be set on a revenge mission in this year's The Everest after the Joliestar team felt the mare raced without any luck last year. Waller felt that what ended up being the winning move was McDonald getting Joliestar across ahead of Giga Kick in the early stages. But, watching the race, Waller still felt it was a tall order to be able to run down the leaders. • Dale ponders shot at Stradbroke with Front Page 'It's been hard to run the leaders down today but we discussed things pre-race and we couldn't change our racing pattern,' Waller said. 'James went straight across from the barriers and got in front of Giga Kick and one or two others and that was what probably won him the race. 'Joliestar was off the bridle at the 500(m) but her class got her home. 'We missed out on (winning) The Everest last year, so we would like to have another crack this year.' McDonald described Joliestar as a 'big rocket.' 'She wasn't entitled to win, but that's how good she is,' he said. 'When I looked up at the 600 (m) I thought I was OK. 'Then I got on my bike but as soon as I did that, the pace quickened and the margin went from five lengths turning for home to seven lengths. 'It just didn't feel like I was making ground. 'I was lucky I was on a proper horse, even though she didn't like the ground at Eagle Farm today.' Joliestar returns to scale. Picture: Trackside Photography • Sunrays ends stellar campaign as trainer resists Group 1 lure There has rarely been a happier second-placed finisher in a Group 1 than Gollan who was proud as punch of Zarastro which started as a $17 chance. 'He ran the race of his life, he was so tough,' Gollan said. 'He was beaten three times down the straight, but he kept putting his head out. 'I couldn't have been prouder of the horse, he hasn't raced in many weeks due to track conditions and things like that. 'Then to go down to such a good, strong race like that and race that well, I'm so happy. 'I knew we got beat on the line but it took a multiple Group 1 winner to beat him. 'I'm very proud of my horse and I'm very proud of Angela.' Giga Kick battled away but could only manage sixth while potential Stradbroke Handicap contender Rise At Dawn was fifth. The connections of Giga Kick said it was one of the few times in his career that he has produced a disappointing run.
The Australian
3 hours ago
- The Australian
Group 1 roughie king Ryan Maloney strikes again in Queensland Derby with Maison Louis
Jockey Ryan Maloney seized a sliding doors moment to again prove the king of the Group 1 roughies, as Maison Louis pinched the Queensland Derby for proud former Queenslander John O'Shea. It wasn't quite the blowout result that Maloney conjured in last year's Group 1 Queensland Oaks when Socks Nation shocked everyone including Maloney as a $101 winner. Racenet iQ members get full access to our Pro Tips service, where Greg and our team of professional punters provide daily tips with fully transparent return on investment statistics. SUBSCRIBE NOW and start punting like a pro! But Maison Louis, trained by O'Shea and his training partner Tom Charlton, was sent out at $21 in a Derby which was set alight by a mid-race move by James McDonald on favourite Belle Detelle who shot to the lead. Belle Detelle couldn't go on with it, finishing seventh, as the O'Shea team grabbed the quinella with King Of Thunder ($12) finishing runner-up. The Derby had been meant to be raced seven days earlier with Ben Melham poised to ride Maison Louis. But with Melham pre-planning a family holiday, Maloney made the most of his opportunity to score another Group 1. The former Victorian jockey now has six career Group 1 wins and four of them have come in his adopted Queensland home. O'Shea was born and raised in Mareeba, Queensland, and loves few things more than having Group 1 success in the Sunshine State including winning the Stradbroke Handicap with Private Steer in 2003. • What the jockeys said: 2025 Queensland Derby 'I'm a proud Queenslander, not just a Queenslander, so it's a big thrill today,' O'Shea said. 'He's just a tough, resilient little horse and he's come from obscurity to win a Queensland Derby so we're very excited. 'He's just been a progressive horse by a top young stallion in Super Seth. 'I think the key was that he was able to cope with the workload.' The rescheduled Derby lost a runner before the start with one of the fancies, South Australian visitor Party Crasher, being taken out at the barriers. It meant Craig Williams was without a ride. But there was a hungry Queensland jockey looking to seize his chance on Maison Louis. Ryan Maloney returns to the winner's stall on Maison Louis. Picture: Trackside Photography • Dale ponders shot at Stradbroke with Front Page 'It was a very dawdling run Derby, and when J-Mac sort of made his move at the half-mile, he increased the tempo, but not by a hell of a lot,' Maloney said. 'When he got the gap, he pinned his ears back and was just tough as nails. 'Last week, my (Derby) emergency got a run. 'But this week, I didn't have a Derby ride initially and luckily I picked it up. 'It is amazing what a week can do.' Mark Zahra, riding the winner's stablemate King Of Thunder, thought he had the race at his mercy. 'He ran really well, I thought we had it won but the stablemate just beat him,' Zahra said. Statuario, trained by Emma-Lee and David Browne, started well fancied at $5 but was never in the picture and finished 14th and beaten 10 lengths. 'Very disappointing,' jockey John Allen said. 'We never got into a good rhythm, and we were always just on one rein. 'We struggled from the 500m mark.'
Daily Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
Jess Tzaferis shines in wet conditions with early double at Morphettville Parks
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Jockey Jess Tzaferis travelled to Saturday's racing at Morphettville Parks with a good deal of confidence and it translated to success. A gander at the forecast and clouds on the way into the nine-race card gave Tzaferis plenty of hope with her book of rides all expected to handle the rainy conditions. Racenet iQ members get full access to our Pro Tips service, where Greg and our team of professional punters provide daily tips with fully transparent return on investment statistics. SUBSCRIBE NOW and start punting like a pro! Tzaferis, who also holds a licence as a trainer, was able to chalk up an early race-to-race double with Grand Host and High Society Girl before running third on Exalted Fire in the sixth race on the program. 'Not going to lie I was very excited coming to the races today and seeing the weather I was driving through and what was forecasted,' Tzaferis told post-race. 'I thought I had three nice rides and especially with the weather so it's a good day to be at the races.' The first of those wins came aboard veteran galloper Grand Host at his 65th career start. The seven-year-old son of Host enjoyed the wet conditions and fast tempo and was able to get the job done in style to chalk up win number 11. 'He's like fine wine because he just gets better with age,' Tzaferis said. 'Really great result for the team. 'He flew the gates today and I was really making sure he got that bum to switch him off and once he got that bum, I knew he would be very hard to beat. 'Especially given the conditions especially when it's getting wetter, he's only better. 'He's hard rock fit, a seasoned campaigner, knows his job and he's happy doing it.' Just 35 minutes later saw High Society Girl turn in a strong victory in a race where the jockey showed plenty of patience. Trainer Stephen Theodore noted to Tzaferis that High Society Girl is at her best when saved for one last dash and it's exactly what panned out. 'Steve honed it into me last start that she does have that one big dash,' Tzaferis said. 'Lachie (Neindorf) was under pressure quite early into the race and I knew I'd get a break into the corner. 'So I had to bide my time, which is sometimes hard to do when the horse is travelling so well underneath you, but you have to trust the trainers judgement and it paid off.' Originally published as Jess Tzaferis shines in wet conditions with early double at Morphettville Parks
