Trainer Pat Carey won't commit Gondokoro to a Cups campaign despite her dominant win...

 

Trainer Pat Carey won't commit Gondokoro to a Cups campaign despite her dominant win in the group 1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on Saturday, reports the Sunday Age.

It says: Gondokoro ($4.40) responded to a superb tactical ride by jockey Rhys McLeod to win the Oaks by 2¾ lengths from Miss Zenella ($9), with Vaquera ($10) two lengths away third.

Carey will delay a decision on whether Gondokoro is aimed at a Caulfield-Melbourne cups campaign until after he speaks with the filly's owner, Trevor Delroy.

''We won't make any decisions until the dust settles and I'd like to seek Trevor's views and gain his input,'' Carey said. ''Let's not lose sight of what it takes to win a Caulfield or a Melbourne Cup.''

Carey praised the toughness of Gondokoro who began her current campaign in February.

''She's got the constitution to be a good stayer and she's held her form since she ran in The Roses at Doomben a fortnight ago,'' Carey said.

''The way she won today you could say that she's continued to improve.''

McLeod took full of advantage of barrier one aboard Gondokoro who tracked the favourite Dear Demi ($2.90) from the outset.

When Dear Demi's jockey Nash Rawiller decided to leave a trailing position on the fence, it enabled McLeod to improve quickly aboard Gondokoro to be in a challenging spot on the home turn.

''Rhys was as cool as a cucumber and you'll go a long way to see a better ride than that,'' Carey said.

A humble McLeod deflected the praise to Gondokoro.

''From the word go we required luck and we got it but she made it happen,'' he said.

''She's a sister to a group 1 winner in Zabeelionaire and today's win ensures she's a valuable broodmare,'' Carey said.

Peter Moody and jockey Luke Nolen praised the effort of Miss Zenella to grab a group 1 placing coming off a restricted win at Sale.