Colgan likes the look of Sancerre

Vin Colgan rides Sancerre to a win at Ipswich. Source: Supplied

VIN Colgan has won the New Zealand Derby five times, so there's not many riders as well equipped to identify a Classic winner and he thinks Sancerre fits the bill for Saturday's Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm.

Colgan, who still rates Zonda as the best of his Derby winners, moved to Queensland last September, but in a three-month return to New Zealand earlier this year managed to pick off another Group 1 with Silent Achiever at Ellerslie.

He has returned in time for the Queensland carnival and has linked with shrewd trainer Tony Pike to plot an Oaks upset with Sancerre.

"She has taken an easy route to the race, but she's very promising," Colgan said.

"She has been given a couple of easy kills, but she won easily both times against older horses.

"She's definitely on the right track and she worked super on Tuesday.

"She made big improvement from the Sunshine Coast to Ipswich. She's just thriving here in Queensland. She's dappled up and her coat is shining."

Sancerre's mum Vouvray won the Oaks 10 years ago and Colgan says that heritage will stand her in good stead today.

"It is a big step up, but it's not easy beating older horses over ground for a three-year-old filly like this girl has," he said.

"She is smart enough to be put in this situation.

"She's by (Silent Achiever's sire) O'Reilly and her mum won this race, so she's bred to run the trip and I've got no doubt she will stay all day.

"This distance will see a lot of the others out and she will be there right to the end.

"She can position up close if she wants to and she's a tremendous chance."

Pike yesterday rated Sancerre marginally in front of his other Oaks runner Rock Diva, owing to the better draw, which means the former can position up closer.

Pike, who originally prepared Sacred Falls and did all the pre-training with the dual Doncaster winner this autumn, holds a strong hand at Eagle Farm.

Sacred Star, who runs in the same colours as Sacred Falls, is a firming favourite for the QTC Cup.

The Pike-trained son of Flying Spur was an impressive trial winner at Doomben earlier this month and Tim Bell was thrilled to be given the call up to replace the injured Leith Innes today.

"I'm not sure how it came about that I got on this horse, but I'm very glad it did come about," Bell said.

"My manager just called and said 'we're on this exciting horse.'

"I haven't graced his back yet, but speaking to the trackwork riders, he's a very promising horse that could really stamp himself a top liner."

Bell has top hopes in all three majors today. He rides Tinto in the Oaks and is tipping Sir Moments to shine in the Queensland Guineas.

"It was a very nice run in what was a sit and sprint race on a track that played towards leaders last time," he said.

"His best work was in the last 100m and from the great barrier, I'm very confident he can run a place here, if not win."

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