Of all the various incarnations of The Oaks run around Australia, the Queensland Oaks stands tall as the race for future stars, think Winx, and the Classic that has spawned some outstanding broodmares, think Denise’s Joy and her daughter Joie Denise.
Last year’s Queensland Oaks was won by Amokura, the daughter of Darley Stud’s Doncaster Mile winner Kermadec, who has this year’s favourite, Scarlet Oak.
Scarlet Oak claims The Roses at start four (image Grant Courtney)
Kermadec not only has a Queensland Oaks winner but also sired the 2021 VRC Oaks winner Willowy, and his 4-time Group 1 winning daughter Montefilia placed in the VRC Oaks.
Close up in the pedigree, Scarlet Oak comes from a family nurtured by Woodlands Stud, but dig a little deeper; this is one of the magnificent Widden Stud families.
It dates to the Prince Galahad mare Medmenham (IRE), the dam of one of the greats of the Australian turf, Ajax (Heroic), who won 36 of his 46 starts and was unplaced just once.
Ajax’s half-sister Hesione (Brueghel) won the AJC Gimcrack Stakes, VRC Maribyrnong Plate, VRC Mimosa Stakes, and VRC Ascot Vale (2yo) Stakes.
Hesione’s year younger sister Hecuba finished third in the Gimcrack Stakes and produced the AJC Champagne Stakes and Merson Cooper Stakes winner Lady Pirouette (Whirlaway).
Part-owned by her breeder, Widden Stud’s Frank Thompson, Lady Pirouette is the dam of the brilliant Kilshery (Edmundo), whose wins included the VATC Oakleigh Plate, QTC Stradbroke Handicap, AJC All-Aged Stakes (twice), and the STC Canterbury Guineas.
Scarlet Oak is the least experienced runner in the Oaks (image Grant Courtney)
Lady Pirouette had just one filly, Waltz (Adamastor), the dam of stakes-winner Paravane (Vain) and the Lunchtime mare Party, the driving force behind the family's explosion in recent years.
Party left two Group 1 winners, the 1999 AJC The Galaxy winner Masked Party and the 1989 WRC Elders Stakes winner Festal.
Party’s daughter La Bamba left four stakes-winner highlighted by the Group 1 VRC Australian Guineas winner Wandjina (Snitzel) and the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint winner Inspiration (Flying Spur).
La Bamba’s half-sister Awards Ceremony (Kaoru Star) produced three stakes winners, triple Group 1 winner Dracula (Quest For Fame), and Listed winners Sash (Dr Grace) and The Oscars (Procol Harum).
Dracula’s sister Insouciance is the dam of Group 1 ATC Spring Champion Stakes winner Complacent (Authorized) and Listed ATC Dulcify Hcp winner Ataraxia (Teofilo), as well as 4-time winner Tactless (Commands), the dam of Scarlet Oak.
Need some more Oaks credentials?
Nostalgic, a sister to Dracula and Insouciance, is the dam of the 2019 Group 1 WRC New Zealand Oaks heroine Miss Sentimental (Reliable Man), while the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy, Group II Auckland Guineas, and Group III BRC Rough Habit winner Dark Destroyer (Proisir) is out of Party’s granddaughter All Can Party (All American).
A veteran of four starts, Scarlet Oak made a winning debut in New Zealand on March 13, when trained by Ken Kelso for the Smithies family’s Monovale Holdings.
The daughter of Kermadec was catalogued as the opening lot of the 2020 Karaka Yearling Sale but was withdrawn.
Sold to continue her career in Australia for some of Chris Waller’s most successful clients, Scarlet Oak finished second in the Group III JB Carr Stakes on a heavy track at Randwick before a two-and-a-half-length romp over 1600m at Newcastle three weeks later. Taken to Brisbane for the Group II The Roses, Scarlet Oak was all out to defeat her stablemate Mare Of Mt Buller.
Scarlet Oak is the best of five winners from as many to race for the Melbourne winning Commands mare Tactless, who has a yearling colt by Contributer (IRE) and a weanling colt by Tarzino. She was covered by Profondo (Deep Impact) last spring.
