Racing: James has his Gaze firmly set on Oaks victory

The way Waikato trainer Roger James sees it, he has won the heats at the Queensland racing carnival. Now it's time for the finals.

James, from Cambridge, has been one of the talking points of the carnival so far, with a strike rate of two wins and two unlucky seconds from five runs. But today, the big stuff starts for him.

He has Gaze primed to justify her solid favouritism in the group-one A$325,000 ($389,000) Queensland Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at Eagle Farm.

"You can never be confident about group-ones, all you can be is happy with your own animal and I'm that," James said.

Gaze had Queenslanders gaping with her win in the Doomben Roses a fortnight ago, following a second in the Gold Coast Bracelet, which she looked to have won until run down late by Super Lacuna.

Questions have been posed whether she has enough stamina to win a 2400m classic, despite running an unlucky fifth in the New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham in January.

Luke Nolen, who rides Upstaged, favours his mount upsetting the $3 favourite after storming home late for second in the 2020m Doomben Roses.

Nolen told the Age newspaper: "Gaze was too brilliant for us over that trip last time after getting a nice trail in the race but our filly will go forward and stay out of trouble.

"She'll have no problems at all with the 2400 metres."

Nolen suggested Gaze might be "too brilliant" to be able to cope with that distance.

However, James is confident his filly will stay the trip.

"She's never been a big feeder, she's a light-framed horse, but she goes into the race a very fit horse," he said.

He hasn't ruled out a tilt at the Queensland Derby the following Saturday but a decision on that will depend on her Oaks run.

Darren Beadman, who rode Gaze to victory at Doomben and who is riding in Japan this weekend, thinks she is the one to beat, despite barrier 14 in a 20-horse field.

"She's got natural gate speed and, even though she's drawn a little wide, she should be able to get across and get cover," he said.

"She's a horse who puts herself into a race and takes up a nice position.

"She's got good stamina, a nice turn of foot and she's in top form."

James said he would discuss the barrier draw with new jockey Danny Nikolic.

"It's not ideal but we have to make the most of it," he said.

"I'll sit down and analyse the speed of the race and work out with Danny what our game plan is."

Two other Kiwis line up against Gaze.

Graeme Sanders is confident Kruger Valley can belie her $21odds and finish ahead of Gazeagain.

Kruger Valley, who will appreciate a firm track, was fourth, a place ahead of Gaze, in the NZ Oaks. Kruger Valley has firmed from $21 to $16, $1 ahead of Nordic Dancer, who races as Our Nordic Dancer in Australia.

Trainer Lance Noble said Our Nordic Dancer would prefer some rain, but he has no doubts about her ability to see out the distance.

James has two other runners at Eagle Farm today - Kajema in the group-two O'Shea Stakes (2400m) and Hasta La Ciao Ciao in the group-two QTC Cup (1300m).

He said Kajema, whose main target is the Brisbane Cup on June 12, would appreciate Eagle Farm, a much roomier track than Doomben, where he ran eighth a fortnight ago.

Hasta La Ciao Ciao arrived from New Zealand only on Tuesday to join the James team after a muscle twinge delayed her arrival.

James was surprised she made the field for Saturday's race and thought the competition might be a bit hot for her, even though she has impressed at home with five wins from 10 starts.

"I will be targeting some group-three and listed 1400m races later in June for her," he said.

"The idea is to get Australian black type [stakes race form] with her."

James confirmed Craig Williams would ride his smart mare La Sizeranne in the $1 million Stradbroke Handicap next week.

- NZPA