A big G1 Oaks day meeting from Flemington on Thursday, and all the good oil is below.
Flemington R1 #7 Matron Bullwinkel $4.20 at PlayUp – Have always had a big opinion of this Maher/Eustace galloper, who are now Melbourne Cup winning trainers by the way. This mare was very good at Geelong when resuming, getting way out of her ground and making good ground through the line. She wasn’t suited by being forced to hunt for runs back to the inside of horses, and with more room in running she goes much closer to winning. Second up, fitter, and goes from 1400m to 1700m which will really suit. Booking of J McDonald is the icing on top.
Flemington R3 #8 Roots $2.35 at PlayUp – Racing in super form this prep, including back to back wins in Sydney to kick off the prep. She made the journey to The Valley on Cox Plate day and finished 2nd behind My Whisper, but was extremely unlucky not to win. She ended up on the fence in running, which was seriously inferior ground on the day. While the winner swooped out wide, she plied her trade back on the inside and was only beaten a neck. Fourth up here, better for the Melbourne run, and will really appreciate coming to a big Flemington surface.
Flemington R4 #18 Street Gossip $11.00 at PlayUp – Cracking race, and i’ve decided to side with the Sydney filly. She was a strong debut winner at Warwick Farm over 1200m on a heavy track, coming from stone motherless last to win impressively. Although the fast tempo in front did help here, she still had to pick up and make a lot of ground through the line. She ran the 3rd best last 200m split of the entire day, and looks a real progressive type. Well drawn here around a bend over the 1400m, and clearly handles a wet track after winning the debut on a heavy 8, and trialling well price on a soft 7.
Flemington R8 (G1 Oaks) #8 Queen Air $7.00 at PlayUp – I’ve got a lot of respect for the favourite in this race, but I thought she has come up a bit short in the market and so i’m looking to this L Smith filly as a good value play. She comes through the G2 Wakeful last start behind Zenzella, and history will tell you that this is the ideal lead in race to the Oaks, with four of the last six Oaks winners having run in the Wakeful. She looks as though she will eat up the extra distance here out to 2500m, as she flew through the line last start over 2000m, and clearly can handle any track conditions. Maps well, drawn well, serious player.
Flemington R9 #18 Greece $3.80 at PlayUp – Really progressive filly who is bred to be a star, coming off a dominant Geelong maiden win last start. She won by 4L with her head on her chest, running extremely strong sectionals home without being asked to extend at all. Second up now and fitter, and gets another good chance at black top level. She should be well suited by the straight track, and looks well drawn in the middle of the line. Coming back slightly in distance should be no worries, and with the services of J McDonald should be given every chance to win.
