Ambience To Make Third Oaks Attempt

Even before she goes to the start for the G1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on Saturday, June 4, Ambience will be entitled to recognition as one of Australia's better and most durable staying three-year-olds.

Already a placegetter in the G1 VRC Oaks in Melbourne in November and the G1 ATC Oaks in Sydney in April, Ambience (John O'Shea/James McDonald) has certainly proved herself a high-class filly - and with even luck she can establish superiority over her rivals in Brisbane.

"She's done a tremendous job to be Classic-placed twice already, it's a real tribute to her, to the team and to her sire Street Cry," said her trainer John O'Shea.

"Unfortunately she's drawn a terrible gate, but there is some rain forecast so it might not be so bad to be out a bit wide."

At her only start since finishing second, a half-length behind Sofia Rosa, in the G1 ATC Oaks, Ambience finished down the track in the G2 The Roses at Doomben last month.

"She suffered severe interference a couple of times which is very difficult to overcome on a small track like Doomben. On the bigger track here and with some extra ground I expect her to run her usual honest race," O'Shea said.

Ambience heads a five-horse contingent at an Oaks meeting that might even provide a pointer to Royal Ascot later this month through the appearance of Federal in the Listed Spear Chief Handicap.

Federal (John O'Shea/James McDonald) was chosen as the galloping partner for crack sprinter Holler in his final test before leaving for the UK where he is scheduled to run in the G1 Golden Jubilee Stakes, and turned in a sparkling performance.

"His work when they galloped at Randwick last week was equal to Holler's, he might even have had the better gallop," O'Shea said.

Also at Eagle Farm, Archives (John O'Shea/James McDonald) steps out in the Listed The Phoenix in an attempt to win his second race in three starts, having become the first Stakes winner for his sire Helmet when successful at Doomben two weeks ago.

"He's a big strong colt who has continued to improve and who should be even better suited by Eagle Farm than he was at Doomben," O'Shea said.

Godolphin's Eagle Farm Stakes-race line up is completed by Alucinari (John O'Shea/James McDonald) in the Listed Juanmo Stakes and Furnaces (John O'Shea/James McDonald) in the Listed Lightning Handicap.