Chance to emulate famous dam

A DECADE after capturing a Queensland Blue Riband, former star mare Nike Franco is on target to add her name to the honour roll of another of the state's classics.

In 2014 Nike Franco blitzed her rivals to capture the Queensland Oaks for trainer Belinda McCarthy.

With McCarthy's husband, Luke, in the cart, the three-year-old scored by 15 metres in a race record 1:56.4 over 2138 metres.

Two years later Nike Franco was sold to American interests and raced with distinction in the United States where she lowered her best mark to 1:48.

Returned to Australia after being purchased as a breeding proposition by Alabar Bloodstock, Nike Franco delivered her first foal - a colt by Somebeachsomewhere in 2020.

Racing as Bay Of Biscay, the three-year-old will make his Queensland debut in Saturday night's Derby at Albion Park.

Should the Emma Stewart-trained colt capture the Group One, Nike Franco will become the first Oaks champion to produce the Derby winner.

The Derby was added to the racing calendar in 1969, with the inaugural Oaks three years later.

To achieve the feat Bay Of Biscay has to overcome an awkward second row draw with Mark Pitt in the cart.

TAB Fixed Odds believe he can, with Bay Of Biscay listed as the $3.30 favourite.

"It is not the greatest draw, but it is what it is," Stewart said. "We believe he is good enough to overcome it, but it will come down to how the race is run and what kind of traffic he has to navigate from there."