Some smart fillies line-up in this year’s $1 million VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on Thursday.
None more so than the short priced favourite Aloisia, who was a brilliant winner in one of the traditional lead-ups, The Vase at Moonee Valley.
Another strong form race is the Wakeful Stakes, run on the Saturday before the Oaks. Coincidently the last horse to do the Wakeful-Oaks double was the John Sargent trained Kirramosa in 2013. Sargent almost repeated the double the following year, but Thunder Lady finished second on the Oaks.
This year Sargent is back for a third crack and saddles impressive Wakeful Stakes winner Luvaluva.
Of course with the three-year-old fillies, stepping up to 2500m for the first time, there is no guarantee they will handle it. This was evidenced last year when $101 shot Lasqueti Spirit, aided by a bold ride front-running ride from Brenton Avdulla stole the race. She came into the Group 1 as a Maiden and the Oaks remains her only win after 18 starts.
Field: View the VRC Kennedy Oaks field and odds
Aloisia ($1.55): Quality filly in great form. She has won two of her three starts since returning from a one run campaign in Brisbane. She won the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m). At her most recent run she scored a dominant 3.5 length win in the Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley. Form impossible to fault and the step up to 2500m should not pose a problem.
Luvaluva ($7.00): This Kiwi bred filly is backing-up here after winning the Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington last Saturday. Jockey Blake Shinn turned in one of the rides of the carnival to weave a passage from last to finish the race off strongly and nail Glam Guru and Rimraam in a tight finish. Her relaxed style and strong turn of foot make her one of the main chances.
Bring Me Roses ($23): Scored an impressive win in the Manifold Stakes (1600m) this track. Started favourite and was a disappointing 12th behind Luvaluva in the Wakeful Stakes. She pulled hard in the run and suffered an abrasion to her off hind leg. Has ability, but she needs to settle better than she did in the Wakeful.
Pinot ($6.00): Winner of her past two starts and latest was with ease in the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield. She is by Pierro, and has staying bloodlines on the dam’s side, being out of a Zabeel mare. She will lead or be close to the front and should prove hard to run down.
Rimraam ($14): Won Geelong Maiden three starts back and has been far from disgraced in two runs since. She chased home Pinot in the Ethereal Stakes and was a fighting third to Luvluva in the Wakeful. The Hayes-Dabernig stable is firing and she deserves respect.
Hiyaam ($23): She enjoyed nice run, but could not sprint as quickly as some of her rivals when fourth to Luvaluva in the Wakeful Stakes. She was about a length behind Luvaluva at the 200m and was beaten 1.55 lengths at the end. She’s by High Chaparral and gives the impression 2500m will be right up her alley.
Lucky Louie ($151): She is still a Maiden and several of these fillies had her measure in the Ethereal Stakes and then ninth in the Wakeful Stakes. Needs to make marked improvement.
Reliable Dame ($17): She followed a Ballarat Maiden win with a nice effort when fourth to Weather With You in the Geelong Classic (2200m). She settled back near the rear of the field and made a wide run from the 600m and turned for home closer to the car-park than the inside fence. She was a bit erratic in the run home and despite the wide run she didn’t shirk the task. Jockey Craig Williams sticks.
Sweet Mischief ($61): Yet to break her duck and needs to lift on last start seventh behind Cliff’s Edge in the Norman Robinson (2000m).
Four Koalas ($101): She was second in a Seymour Maiden and then beaten almost 6 lengths behind Aloisia in the Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley. Hugh Bowman is a plus, but needs to make massive improvement.
Circuleight ($151): Raced on speed and battled on for second in a Seymour Maiden 2215m. Three starts back she was beaten just over eight lengths behind Pinto in a three-year-old Handicap (1800m).
Miss Admiration ($301): She was long odds and always near the rear when 13th of 16 in the Wakeful. Looks outclassed at this stage of her career.
Best Bet
Aloisia, Pinot, Hiyaam.
Value Bet
Reliable Dame.