ATC OAKS PLACEGETTTER “TONGUE TIED” FOR BRISBANE DEBUT

ATC Australian Oaks placegetter You Wahng will race in a tongue tie at Doomben tomorrow as she attempts to get her Queensland Oaks campaign back on track.

Kris Lees has decided on the gear change for the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) following her out of character performance when last in the $500,000 The Coast (1600m) at Gosford a fortnight ago.

“Andrew Gibbons felt You Wahng may have got her tongue over the bit at Gosford, and she has come through that race without any other problem and trained on well since,” stable spokesman Danny Greer said this morning.

“Kris has galloped her in the tongue tie, and she has responded well.

“Importantly You Wahng has drawn an inside gate at Doomben in a big field.

“We’re expecting her to turn her form around and go on to the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm in a fortnight.”

Tommy Berry is back on the So You Think filly, having partnered her when a close seventh in the Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) in March before placings for Craig Williams at The Championships at Royal Randwick in both the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) and ATC Oaks (2400m) on consecutive Saturdays.

Lees sent both You Wahng and stablemate Hellavadancer to his Gold Coast base early yesterday to avoid possible road closures because of the flooding crisis in the mid North Coast area.

Andrew Mallyon rides Hellavadancer in the Benchmark 85 Handicap (1350m).

“She has raced well in Brisbane in the past, and has had two nice trials to ready her for this resumption,” Greer said.

Prior to the Doomben meeting, Bestower (Mallyon, Benchmark 78 Handicap, 2213m) and Miss Busslinger (Angela Jones, Class 4 Plate, 1400m) represent the stable at tonight’s Gold Coast program under lights.

“Bestower needs a bit of luck in her races, but is in good form and gets her chance to break through,” Greer said.

“Miss Busslinger looks well placed under the set weights conditions. She acquitted herself well last time at 1600m in Listed grade at Eagle Farm, and has been freshened to come back to 1400m.”

Zaphod (Dylan Gibbons in the Benchmark 88 Handicap, 2000m) highlights a light team at Royal Randwick tomorrow, with the meeting certain to be run on heavy ground.

“His first run back when runner-up to subsequent Gosford Cup Les Vampires was excellent,” Greer said.

“He is a big striding horse who loves heavy ground, and should be hard to beat.”

Lees has deferred a decision on starting Power Of The Brave (apprentice Will Stanley) in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m) pending confirmation of track conditions in the morning.

“Normally drawing the rails barrier is an advantage, but probably not so tomorrow given the heavy track,” Greer said.

Lees withdrew Damien from the 2YO Handicap (1200m) because of the ground after the youngster wasn’t comfortable on a heavy track in the Clarendon Stakes (1400m) at Hawkesbury on May 3.

. Russian Roni (Andrew Gibbons) and Oakfield Prince (Aaron Bullock) represent the stable in Sunday’s Gunnedah Cup (1600m), which carries Big Dance eligibility.

“Both horses are in form, and the chance to clinch a start in the $3m Big Dance at Randwick in November is a big lure,” Greer said.

Story John Curtis, May 23, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos