Bart Cummings and Peter Moody's hopes of breaking their deadlock for Group One training honours this season were dealt serious blows following the barrier draw for the Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm.The Cummings-trained Dariana retained favouritism in fixed odds markets at $3.60 for Saturday's 2400-metre feature despite drawing barrier 19, while Moody's hopes of his second Queensland Oaks victory in three years slumped when Fairy Oak received gate 21.Both will come in five places if the emergenci
Bart Cummings and Peter Moody's hopes of breaking their deadlock for Group One training honours this season were dealt serious blows following the barrier draw for the Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm.
The Cummings-trained Dariana retained favouritism in fixed odds markets at $3.60 for Saturday's 2400-metre feature despite drawing barrier 19, while Moody's hopes of his second Queensland Oaks victory in three years slumped when Fairy Oak received gate 21.
Both will come in five places if the emergencies don't obtain runs.
Cummings, whose only previous Queensland Oaks winner was Round The World in 1987, and Moody are level with six wins each in their battle for Group One training honours with only four elite-level features of the season remaining after Saturday's race.
Status Quo, barrier 11, is equal third favourite with Fairy Oak at $7.50, and will represent Sydney trainer Peter Snowden who won the Queensland Oaks with Purple last year.
Moody described Fairy Oak's barrier as "awful" and will no doubt have to formulate similar tactics he adopted with the daughter of High Chaparral who dropped out in the early stages when an eye-catching fifth to Marheta in the Group Three Doomben Roses (2020m) on May 22.
Marheta is now at $6 after drawing ideally in barrier three which boosts her hopes of becoming only the second filly to win the Doomben Roses-Queensland Oaks double.
New Zealand's champion filly Ethereal completed the double in 2001, the same year she went on to win the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in the spring.
Moody won the Queensland Oaks-Queensland Derby two years ago with Riva San but has no doubt Fairy Oak is the better stayer.
"Riva San was no champion and she was in the right place at the right time when she won the Queensland Oaks that year," Moody said.
Moody is delighted with Fairy Oak's improvement since the Doomben Roses and will give serious consideration to backing her up in the Group One Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday week.
Fairy Oak was one of 34 first acceptors paid up on Wednesday for the Derby.
Apart from Riva San, only three other fillies, Royal Magic (1992), Bravery (1988) and Analie (1973) have completed the Oaks-Derby double.
Moody is running short of firepower for the remaining Group One races in the winter with only Set For Fame (Winter Stakes) and Arvan (Queensland Derby) chasing wins at the elite level.
He has timed his preparation to perfection with Fairy Oak, who was sent north following her narrow victory in the Group Three Auraria Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville on May 2.
"She wasn't ready for the South Australian Oaks at the time but after she won the Group Three race we sent her to Queensland with the Oaks in mind," Moody said.
"I thought her run in the Roses was enormous and I've go doubt at all about her getting 2400 metres.
"Winning the award for most Group Ones isn't something I've been after in my career.
"I can't eat it if I go hungry."