RACING to her usual pattern of sitting just off the front of the race, Socks Nation, fourth at Group level in two of her past five starts, shocked punters to win the 2,200 metre Group 1 Queensland Oaks at 100/1.

Remarkably she was let go around at that price when prepared by the country’s leading trainer, Ciaron Maher, a renowned conditioner of stayers. Hitting the lead at the top of Eagle Farm straight, Socks Nation had to fight hard to hold the Lope De Vega filly Our Gold Hope at bay to win by a head on the line as the Russian Revolution filly Miss Joelene claimed third.