Queensland Oaks mission for Pinito

Super consistent filly Pinito faces her moment of truth in Saturday’s Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm, but the flashy chestnut continues to thrive and has been targeted at the Group 1 feature by Godolphin Australia head trainer James Cummings.

A stunning last-to-first winner of the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet on a bog track over 1,800m four weeks ago, Pinito returned to Sydney instead of contesting the traditional Oaks lead-up in The Roses 2,000m at Doomben on 24 May.

With two wins and eight placings from just 10 starts, Pinito has already proven a fantastic buy after being purchased at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $260,000.

The filly keeps lifting the distance bar and looked strong on the line at the Gold Coast, indicating the 2,200m of the Oaks wouldn’t pose a problem.

In-form jockey Jason Collett retains the mount and he should again allow Pinito to find her feet early so she can unleash her usual powerful finish down the long Eagle Farm home straight.

Stablemates Golden Mile and Lavalier will provide Cummings with other G1 opportunities when they contest the Kingsford Smith Cup over 1,300m and Queensland Derby 2,400m, respectively.

Drawn the outside barrier, Golden Mile will need luck in running and plenty of pace upfront to show his best in the Cup.

Collett has the mount after riding the 2022 G1 Caulfield Guineas winner in a 1175m Warwick Farm trial on 22 May.

Golden Mile showed he wasn’t far from peak fitness with a fast-finishing third in the G2 Victory Stakes over 1,200m at Eagle Farm on 3 May before returning to Sydney.

Lavalier, to be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, endured a tough run early before fighting on to finish a good third in the G1 South Australian Derby 2,500m at Morphettville on 3 May and has since had the benefit of a Warwick Farm trial.

Cummings has always considered Lavalier a stayer in the making and the three-year-old should be suited by the mile-and-a-half journey.

The young trainer will be hoping a tongue-tie and winkers help Spacewalk return to his best in the G2 Moreton Cup over 1,200m.

Leading Brisbane rider Angela Jones takes the ride aboard Spacewalk, who has much ability but was disappointing when only fifth in the Listed Chief De Beers at Doomben a fortnight ago.

Pisanello looked desperately unlucky when fifth at Scone in the Listed Ortensia Stakes over 1,100m and appears one of the top fancies in the Listed Lightning Handicap despite dropping back to 1,000m. Champion jockey James McDonald has taken the ride.

Austmarr (McEvoy) is also a Lightning Handicap acceptor from the Anthony and Sam Freedman yard, but the Godolphin-owned  mare is also entered for the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes over 1,200m.

Rachel King is listed to ride her in a race Austmarr could clash with the Cummings-trained Kin, who appears well suited from barrier six with McDonald in the saddle.

At Royal Randwick, Contemporary will be second-up from a spell in the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes over 1,100m.

The five-year-old wasn’t beaten far when ninth at Scone in the Ortensia, but he needs to lift after four unplaced runs since last November.

Adam Hyeronimus has the mount and Contemporary has drawn nicely in gate five.

Matima (Nash Rawiller), Pereille (Zac Lloyd) and Fleetwood (Alysha Collett) are acceptors in support races at Randwick, while the Freedman-trained Godolphin filly Expulsion (Daniel Moor) will take on the two-year-olds down the straight 1,100m course at Flemington.