Graeme Rogerson tightened his grip on the G1 Queensland Derby when Scarlett Lady won the G1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on Sunday.

Scarlett Lady and stablemate Shootoff have been installed $4.60 equal favourites for the Queensland Derby next Saturday.  But Rogerson and owner Max Whitby will let the dust settle before making any decisions whether to take on the colts or send her straight out for the spell.

Scarlett Lady (3f Savabeel – On Call by Ironclad) blitzed her rivals in the Oaks.  She powered home to defeat Becerra (Al Maher) by more than two lengths while another Kiwi filly Shez Sinsational (Ekraar) was third home.

“She’s a freak and could be anything,” Rogerson claimed.  “She just keeps getting better and better and could go on to be something very, very special.”

Rogerson trained her sire Savabeel and Whitby also had a share in the G1 W S Cox Plate winner who now stands at Waikato Stud in New Zealand.

Scarlett Lady emulated Ethereal who had been the only other filly to sweep the Doomben Roses – Queensland Oaks double.  The former Kiwi champion went on to win both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in 2001.

Rogerson sent Scarlett Lady to Brisbane after black-type wins back home in the LR Manawatu Breeders Stakes at Awapuni and G2 Travis Stakes at Te Rapa.

Savabeel’s first Group 1 winner is the last foal of LR Feilding Gold Cup winner On Call.  Whitby bought her for just $25,000 at the 2009 NZB Karaka yearling sale.

Meanwhile, Rogerson has Shootoff ticking over nicely since a last start fourth at weight-for-age in the G1 Doomben Cup.

Shootoff is a first crop son of Duelled who stands at Rogerson’s Hamilton based Dormello Stud.  The sire is a Redoute’s Choice three-quarter brother to Nothin’ Leica Dane.