Queman wins Oakleigh Plate to give father-daughter trainers Shane and Cassie Oxlade first Group 1 triumph
South Australian trainers Shane and Cassie Oxlade enjoyed the biggest moment of their careers when Queman won the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield.
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South Australian sprinter Queman gave father-daughter training combination Shane and Cassie Oxlade the biggest moment in their racing lives with Group 1 success in the Oakleigh Plate.
The Oxlades saddled second favourite Sghirripa in the 1100m drag race but it would be $17 outsider Queman who touched off Hypothetical on the winning post.
“You get out of bed every day to train a good horse and to win a Group race, or a Group 1, it is just the pinnacle of anything in our sport isn’t it?” Shane Oxlade said.
QUEMAN FIGHTS IT OUT IN THE OAKLEIGH PLATE! 😱
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) February 24, 2024
SHANE AND CASSIE OXLADE CLAIM THEIR FIRST GROUP 1!@HTCoffeypic.twitter.com/oxaC7RCHFw
“I don’t know if it’ll change much in terms of more horses or less horses, to be honest it doesn’t worry me, I’m happy doing what I’m doing.
“We have 12, 14, sometimes 16 in work. It’s a really small team at home… it’s just good for everyone, it’s a big kick.”
Mornington Glory rounded out the top three from Benedetta, as favourite King’s Gambit was unplaced along with Asfoora.
Queman trailed leader Hypothetical in the run and they paired off inside the last 200m to fight out the finish with a wall of horses in the mix for third.
Less than a length separated third-placed Mornington Glory and 10th Asfoora.
Popular jockey Harry Coffey nailed the ride on Queman, now the biggest winner of his career.
“It’s a huge thrill, I’m usually pretty good with my words so I’m trying not to get lost with what I’m saying,” Coffey said.
“But it’s massive and I said in my interview before, I’ve won a Group 1 (2018 SA Derby), I’ve had that feeling before but I wanted to do it again so it wasn’t a fluke so hopefully they flow on a bit now.”
Originally published as Queman wins Oakleigh Plate to give father-daughter trainers Shane and Cassie Oxlade first Group 1 triumph
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