Australasian Oaks - 2000m, Morphettville R9
A capacity field will greet the judge in the Australasian Oaks this year, and punters are having a hard time working the race out with four horses vying for favouritism between the $5.50-$7 mark, plus another couple on the next line of betting.
Arts is the only horse in this race from the Sydney autumn carnival. She won the Adrian Knox by a widening four lengths on a bog track at 2000m, but then wasn’t the same horse a week later in the ATC Oaks at 2400m, when jumping equal favourite and battling into fifth.
Is Arts just a wet-tracker? Did she not stay 2400m and is suited back in distance here? Is she already at the end of her debut prep? There are a few questions to be answered.
The Maher/Eustace yard come to the race with bases loaded, bringing three progressive, improving fillies into the Oaks.
Jennilala and Affaire A Suivre both won key lead-up races over 1800m at Morphetville two weeks ago, while Running on Time was more fancied in the Port Adelaide Guineas but ran second to Affaire A Suivre.
Jennilala was the most visually impressive of the trio, rounding her rivals up, but in a weaker race that was set up for the swoopers. Affaire A Suivre was stronger than Running on Time, but both equally had every chance. Roar Racing’s exclusive Stable Mail will be keen reading to split these stablemates.
She’s Fit is the interesting runner, with the Perth filly extending her preparation into a seventh start off the back of interstate travel. Trainer Daniel Morton is no dill though, Craig Williams is a key booking, and there’ll be no filly fitter at 2000m given she is coming off three 2200m-2400m runs including a WA Oaks win.
As Time Goes By and Party Princess ran the quinella in the Claire Lindop Stakes at the start of April. Both are hitting this race a month between runs, and it might be the forgotten form.
As Time Goes By ran third in the Wakeful back in the spring, and Pavitra franked the form from that race up in Sydney over the carnival. She had every possible favour in the Lindop, and won accordingly.
Party Princess drew wide in that race, snagged back, and then had to make her run via the Cape. She was savaging the line late, and the extra 400m here is going to be right up her alley, but she is coming off a foot abscess at an inopportune time.
Amati looks the blow-out hope at bigger odds, and not just because of the lethal Chris Waller and Mick Dee combination. She has had two forget runs either side of a Stakes placing to the very handy Papillon Club, and shouldn’t have any issue with 2000m.
Selections: 1.Amati 2.She’s Fit 3. Party Princess 4.Arts
AMATI
EACH-WAY
* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check Playup Website For Latest Odds
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