Wyadup Valley Farm's homebred Gondokoro got an ideal stalking trip in the XXXX Gold Queensland Oaks (Aus-I) June 1 at Eagle Farm before making her winning move at the top of the straight to outstay 16 rivals and score by 2 3/4 lengths.
The bay filly crossed the finish line a comfortable winner over Miss Zenella in a one-two finish for New Zealand-based stallion Zabeel, a multiple leading sire in Australia and New Zealand who stands at Sir Patrick Hogan's Cambridge Stud.
Ridden by Rhys McLeod, the New Zealand-bred filly saved ground on the fence as Kazanluk laid down the tempo on slow ground. Gondokoro tracked just behind favorite Dear Demi and was ready to roll when McLeod guided her to clear running room in the straight.
Vaquera rallied from the back of the field to take third. VRC Crown Oaks (Aus-I) winner Dear Demi finished a well-beaten seventh.
Gondokoro earned her second win and first stakes from 13 starts as she covered the 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2) miles in 2:32.17. She has run creditably at the top level previously, finishing third in the Australian Oaks (Aus-I) April 20 at Randwick. She entered the Queensland Oaks off a runner-up finish in the Hidden Dragon Roses Stakes (Aus-II) May 18 at Doomben.
"She is a strong filly and she can only improve," trainer Pat Carey said. The filly could be pointed to the major staying races at the Melbrourne Spring Carnival.
Gondokoro is out of the stakes-placed Carnegie mare Kisumu, also is the dam of 2012 South Australian Derby (Aus-I) winner Zabeelionaire, the winner's full brother.
