Brisbane trainer Kelly Schweida to morph into Nostradamus in Group 1 Queensland Oaks

Kelly Schweida told Jimmy Orman six months ago that the jockey would break his Group 1 duck on Miss Joelene and now the proof will be in the pudding in the Queensland Oaks.

Queensland trainer Kelly Schweida can morph into Nostradamus at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Six months ago, Schweida told Jimmy Orman that filly Miss Joelene would give the leading Brisbane jockey his first Group 1 win.

The proof will be in the pudding in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks on Saturday, where Miss Joelene is a $21 chance to send Orman into the Group 1 winner’s club.

“A Group 1 is definitely around the corner for Jimmy,” Schweida said.

“I told Jimmy six months ago that this filly would be his first Group 1 winner.

“So we will see if we are close with that prediction on Saturday. This filly is not a very big girl but the more work she gets into her, the more she wants.”

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Group 1 Queensland Oaks contender Miss Joelene and her jockey, Jimmy Orman, who is searching for his maiden Group 1 win. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography.

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Orman is Brisbane’s reigning champion jockey and is winning this season’s metropolitan title race by as far as you could kick your hat.

But a Group 1 win has so far been the nut he has not been able to crack, in 38 previous rides at Group 1 level.

In the Group 2 The Roses, Orman and third-placed Miss Joelene were beaten just ¾ of a length by Queensland Oaks favourite Scarlet Oak despite having a much tougher run.

“If you are giving the Oaks favourite a chance on Saturday, we weren’t that far from her last time,” Schweida said.

“The favourite has pretty good wet form, but it’s been a week of fine weather in Brisbane.

“I think Miss Joelene is better on top of the ground. It has been a start by start thing to see whether she is an Oaks filly.

“But when Ryan Maloney rode her in the (Group 1) Flight Stakes (last September at Randwick), it was a mile, and her best work was late.

“Ryan got off and said she would run at least 2000m. The filly went really good last start, Jimmy said he got out in the better going but lost probably three to four lengths going out wide.

“And he had to go a bit early to put himself into the race.”

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Miss Joelene. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography.

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Schweida has a happy habit of winning Group 1s with girls – scoring the Tatt’s Tiara with Miss Cover Girl (2016) and Nova Star (2007).

He says it is good for Miss Joelene that the Queensland Oaks is these days raced over 2200m – not 2400m.

Orman will have to contend with a wide barrier – starting from second from the outside – to score his maiden Group 1.

“The barrier means that instead of being midfield, poking along, we will probably be back in the last three or four in the run,” Schweida said.

Originally published as Brisbane trainer Kelly Schweida to morph into Nostradamus in Group 1 Queensland Oaks