Remarkably, the Queensland Oaks market didn't alter enormously yesterday, despite New Plymouth filly Shez Sinsational drawing beautifully at No 2.
Her Waikato rival, the favourite Scarlett Lady drew awkwardly at gate No 9.
Before the barrier draw, bookmakers had Scarlett Lady at $3.50 and Shez Sinsational at $11.
Late yesterday,
they eased Scarlett Lady to $3.60 and brought Shez Sinsational in to $10.
It was clear evidence they are already holding a big liability on Scarlett Lady.
Shez Sinsational's trainer Allan Sharrock said yesterday that his filly keeps delighting him with her progress.
Scarlett Lady has already shown her talent to Australians with her dominant Doomben Roses victory, but while clearly respecting the rival filly, Sharrock is not overawed.
"The day they both won at Te Rapa they ran almost identical times and my filly carried a lot more weight, so that puts them in the same ballpark."
Heidilicious, trained by John Sadler and regarded as the threat to the favourites, drew gate No 15.
Chris Waller, who can't do much wrong, came up with gate No 16 for Tropicana Girl.
Trainer John Sargent isn't having a great deal of luck with talented juvenile Shanghai Bund in Queensland.
Two weeks ago Shanghai Bund was unlucky when off the track for a good part of the race from a wide barrier.
He drew perfectly last weekend, but was late scratched when he was found to be cast in his box when due to be transferred to the track.
In this week's A$250,000 Sires Produce he's drawn badly again at 11 of the 12 runners.
New Zealand filly Dowager Queen will come out of gate No 9 in the same race.
