The Neds Oakleigh Plate is one of my favourite races of the year and another excellent and open field of sprinters will step out on the 1100m course at Caulfield on Saturday.

All eyes will be on the return of star three-year-old Bivouac, but he’ll absolutely need to be at his best if he’s to account for some of these start fresh performers, or those with a nice fitness edge.

I’ve had a crack and I’m confident in my 2020 Neds Oakleigh Plate tips below.

NEDS OAKLEIGH PLATE – WINNER

No. 15 Pippie

I am enormous fan of Pippie and I think that if she’s going to win a Group 1 race, it’ll be the Neds Oakleigh Plate. The Team Meagher-trained mare is a multiple black type winner and has excellent fresh form, so much so that she is undefeated at this point of her preparation previously. Her three-consecutive wins when resuming last time were excellent and she’s had the benefit of a lovely trial in the lead up to this. She’s been charged with carrying only 52kgs and will go forward with Linda Meech in the saddle, who is one of, if not the country’s best on-pace jockey. All of that suggests to me that Pippie will be right in the finish.

NEDS OAKLEIGH PLATE – 2ND

No. 3 Bivouac

There is every chance that Bivouac comes out and just wins the Neds Oakleigh Plate and the amount of speed in the race suggests that it will be set up perfectly for him. The Exceed And Excel colt was simply outstanding in spring; recording three wins and two close-up seconds from his six starts, headlined by a dominant win in the Golden Rose. He’s another horse that has trialled well in the lead-up to this and even though he gives weight to the lion’s share of his rivals, 55.5kgs is still a very manageable weight, and he’ll have the benefit of Craig Williams steering from a good draw.

NEDS OAKLEIGH PLATE – 3RD

No. 16 Anaheed

Anaheed is another outstanding three-year-old confirmed for a start in the Neds Oakleigh Plate field and with even luck, I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again as well. The Peter & Paul Snowden-trained filly has won some lovely races throughout her twelve-start career so far and has won two of her three starts here at Caulfield, including the Group 2 Rubiton at this trip a fortnight ago. She’ll only improve for that effort and looks a serious threat with Timmy Clark aboard.

NEDS OAKLEIGH PLATE – 4TH

No. 13 Humma Humma

Humma Humma will take good improvement into her second campaign start and looms as a genuine each-way pop at a big price ($26 at publish). The John McArdle-trained mare has been a strong and consistent performer throughout her racing career and won the Listed Alinghi most notably during a short spring prep. She finished just over a length from Jungle Edge on the soft two weeks ago and will relish a return to good this week, while she’s drawn well in barrier 3 with West Australian star Willie Pike engaged to ride.

Suggested Bets

• 2 Units E/W #15 Pippie
• Boxed Trifecta of the selections below