The Kris Lees-trained Amokura capped off her impressive first career preparation stepping up notably in grade to post an impressive upset in the 2023 Queensland Oaks results at Eagle Farm.
Damien Oliver (pictured in Sydney) posted his 128th career Group 1 aboard Amokura in the 2023 Queensland Oaks. Photo: Steve Hart.
Lees celebrated his second success in the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival feature 18 years after his first with Vitesse Dane back in 2005.
This time he took out the $700,000 Group 1 with untapped Kermadec filly Amokura ($8) who was making not only her elite level but her Black-Type racing debut in the 2200m feature.
After a nearly eight length win at home at Newcastle over 1850m two back, Lees knew he had a genuine Oaks contender on his hands.
He brought Amokura up to the sunshine state last start where she won over 1800m at the Sunny Coast by two lengths to make the cut for the Oaks.
“Well they can come from nowhere in an Oaks,” Lees told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“She put the writing on the wall with a win at Newcastle by a big margin.
“Got Ollie to come up and ride her, and the rest is history.”
Oliver gave the eventual Queensland Oaks winner a perfectly-timed run despite Amokura getting away a little late from the inside alley.
“She got further back than we were thinking from the nice draw,” Lees said.
“But he (Oliver) weaved a passage and got the job done.
“All along she gave us the impression she’d get over ground.”
From barrier one Oliver was able to conserve energy and he was on the only filly travelling on the turn.
He weaved his way through the field down the straight tackling the front-runners and kicking clear for a one-and-a-half-length victory over 100/1 outside Reo who was huge in second having briefly hit the front.
In third to complete the Queensland Oaks trifecta was the Les Kelly-trained Maurice filly from the Gold Coast Noah ‘N’ A Deel ($21) who finished just ahead of the beaten favourite as Bjorn Baker‘s Renaissance Woman ($3.90F) came from third last on the turn to run fourth.
After enjoying three straight wins Amokura will now head out to the paddock returning for her second campaign in the spring with some potential big targets on the agenda.
“First prep, she’s going to get a well deserved break and then we’ll reassess her from there,” Lees said.
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