Sunsprite Sweats on Queensland Oaks Start

Trainer Annabel Archibald is desperate to see well-bred filly Sunsprite get her chance in Saturday's Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) as she sweats on a start in the $700,000 test at Eagle Farm.
 
Sunsprite will be nominated for a 2000m three-year-old event at Royal Randwick on Saturday but priority number one would be for the filly to head to Queensland.
 
There are 28 fillies still in the nominations for the Queensland Oaks for which a field of 18 with five emergencies will be declared on Tuesday.
 
Sunsprite sits 23rd in the order of entry and will need a reasonable attrition rate or she could instead be forced to line up in Sydney.
 
Archibald, who trains alongside her husband Rob, said it would be "gutting" to see Sunsprite miss a start as she believes she will relish the 2200m test.
 
Sunsprite is bred to thrive over the trip as a daughter of The Autumn Sun out of Australian Oaks runner-up Scarlet Dream.
 
She was only narrowly beaten the last time the Archibalds took her to the races when working home from last to finish third behind Agent Zero in an 1800m event at Royal Randwick.
 
"She is very straightforward," Archibald said.
 
"She got a long way back off a slow tempo and is bred to get the trip.
 
"Her mother was second in the Oaks to Verry Elleegant and she is by The Autumn Sun so you would think the Oaks on pedigree will be right up her alley.
 
"It would just be gutting if she doesn't quite get in but we have Tom Sherry booked there if we do get a start."
 
Sunsprite is a $26 chance in TAB All-In betting for the Queensland Oaks in which the Chris Waller-trained duo Chispa and Panova share equal favouritism at $5.
 
The promising Shady Road is another filly bound for the Sunshine State for the Archibalds.
 
Shady Road missed by a whisker when bolting home for third in the Listed Denise's Joy Stakes at Scone last start and will get another chance to breakthrough for a black type win in the $200,000 Listed Queensland Day Stakes (1200m) for three-year-olds.
 
"She is only a lightly-framed filly so we don't do a lot with her but she is ticking over nicely so that would be the plan to head there but we will see what the noms look like on Monday," Archibald said.
 
The Archibalds had a winning day at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday with Couples Retreat scoring.