Queensland Derby delay to benefit Statuario but not so much Femminile

The rescheduling of the Queensland Derby has boosted the chances for grey gelding Statuario but Phillip Stokes isn’t so bullish about his filly Femminile’s hopes.

A week can be a long time in horse racing – just ask Femminile’s trainer Phillip Stokes.

He wanted his talented filly to run on a heavy track in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm last weekend but unfortunately for him, persistent rain and poor visibility for jockeys meant the feature race was rescheduled to this Saturday.

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In stark contrast, fellow Pakenham trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne are delighted that Derby favourite Statuario will race on a good surface on Saturday in the $1m contest.

And the husband-and-wife team has another ace up its sleeve in “Derby King” John Allen, who is again booked to ride the grey gelding at Eagle Farm.

The Irish jockey flew to Brisbane for just the one ride in the Derby last week but he didn’t even get to jump on Statuario as the rain kept falling and the jockeys voted to call it a day after five races.

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He will be back in the River City on Saturday, hoping that his grey wizard can turn the tables on Femminile, who narrowly beat a late-charging Statuario in last month’s South Australian Derby (2500m).

Allen has won 20 Group 1s in Australia and, remarkably, nine of those have been in Derbies, including the 2019 Queensland edition for the Stokes-trained Mr Quickie.

Statuario (left) and Femminile have had their fortunes change for the Group 1 Queensland Derby after the race was pushed back a week. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

“Yes, that definitely gives me a lot more confidence,” Emma-Lee Browne said of Allen’s superb record in Derbies.

“He’s a very patient rider and that comes from having a background as a jumps jockey with experience over the further distances.

“But the horses seem to settle really well for him which I think is crucial in these kind of races.”

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Stokes, who organised the travel to the Gold Coast for both Statuario and rival Femminile, said the rescheduling of the Derby was “not ideal”.

“We went up there hoping for a wet track but the races were called off,” he said.

“We would’ve loved to have run on a Heavy 10 because I know she likes it.

“Look, I still think she can run well (on Saturday) but is she on the up? No.

“Hopefully she can dig deep and pull one more out.”

Phillip Stokes would have preferred last week’s conditions for Femminile. Picture: Getty Images

Statuario is the $6 favourite for the Queensland Derby ahead of three others in single-figures in the market – Belle Detelle ($7), King Of Thunder ($8) and Femminile ($9.50).

Allen said it was “frustrating” not getting to ride last Saturday but “not too disappointing” given that Statuario had a far superior record (8: 3-2-0) on dry tracks.

“It’s a very even race with no real standout,” Allen said of the Queensland Derby.

“I’m fairly confident Statuario is in as good form as anything in the race and he’s trending the right way.

“I feel like he’s the horse with the most upside at this stage.”

Allen will be hoping to recapture his 2019 form in Queensland when he won Group 2 races The Roses (Etana) and The Q22 (Kenedna), which were the cherries on top of Group 1 victories in the Derby (Mr Quickie) and Doomben Cup (Kenedna).

As for the nickname ‘Derby King’, Allen would love to win on Saturday to cement that reputation as the middle-distance magician.

“I haven’t won a Derby in three years (2022 Australian Derby on Hitotsu) so it’ll be good to top up the tally on Saturday,” he said.

Originally published as Queensland Derby delay to benefit Statuario but not so much Femminile