Bjorn Baker’s in-form mare Bonny O’Reilly is firm favourite to take out the 2017 Helen Coughlan Stakes in the card closer at Doomben Racecourse on Saturday.
Nancy is one of the best fancied mares in the 2017 Helen Coughlan Stakes betting markets for the last at Doomben on Queensland Oaks Day. Photo: Steve Hart.
This season’s Queensland Oaks Day program has moved from Eagle Farm to Doomben Racecourse and the last even ton the card is the $100,000 Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) for the fillies and mares.
A potential lead-up to the $500,000 Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1350m) on June 24, markets on the set weights plus penalties sprint are dominated by O’Reilly four-year-old Bonny O’Reilly who scratched out of the Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m) earlier on the line-up in favour of this run against her own kind.
Drawn a treat in barrier two with Jason Collett to ride, Bonny O’Reilly is undefeated over the distance having won both her 1200m starts to date including at Rosehill a fortnight ago carrying 56kg to victory.
She has her first Brisbane run on Saturday looking to add to a good six-from-eight career record so far and pay $3.40 in the latest Helen Coughlan Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Despite the size of the field, which will be absent Danish Twist who was an early withdrawal post acceptances after drawing out wide with a Rosehill run on Saturday scheduled instead, just two other runners are currently under $10.
Second favourite in the Helen Coughlan Stakes betting markets at $5 is Nancy drawn gate 16, but coming into 14 if the remaining emergencies fail to gain a start.
Peter & Paul Snowden’s Big Brown mare has finished top four in her latest four runs since February including her second at the Gold Coast on May 6 in the Listed Silk Stocking (1200m).
She was beaten the barest of margins that day, has been freshened-up since and comes back from 59kg that day to 57.5kg on the weekend with Damian Browne to ride.
Also under double-figures paying $8.50 to overcome the outside barrier on Saturday is Maternal for the Godolphin stable.
The Street Cry four-year-old comes off a 1350m win at the track in a Benchmark 85 from May 13 where she blitzed a decent field by a three length margin.
She drops in distance for this but remains one of the key chances according to the bookies.
Of the longer priced hopefuls those with genuine claims at an upset include Robert Heathcote’s last start Listed Bright Shadow winner at the track and distance Bidii Babe ($11), Godolphin’s other runner Kinshachi ($12) and the Chris Anderson-trained Silk Stocking third placegetter two back Elegant Composure ($13).
Bidii Babe was third only a length off the winner in the $1 million Gold Coast Magic Millions Fillies & Mares race in January and is a class four-year-old on the improve.
Her win here in the wet a fortnight back in similar company was brave and the daughter of Not A Single Doubt is a big hope again with outstanding form over this distance (10-4-0-2).
See below for the full Helen Coughlan Stakes 2017 field, barriers, jockeys and latest markets provided by Ladbrokes.com.au.
