Australasian Oaks Appears an Open Contest

Often a wide-open market each year as many of the fillies are either dropping back from harder races or are stepping up in class – this year's $1m Gr1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) appears no different. Finishing just over a length off multiple Group 1-winning 3YO filly Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) in the Gr1 Vinery Stud Stakes last time out, the Glen Thompson (former Michael Moroney) trained Benagil (Manhattan Rain-Des Moines, by War) is the current race favourite off some solid form. If you look at the last six winners of the race, none of them raced in the same equivalent race the start prior, although two had contested the Alexandria Stakes at Moonee Valley in their last few starts enroute to the Oaks. The G Waterhouse & A Bott trained pair of Too Darn Lizzie (Too Darn Hot-Enbihaar, by Magnus) and Phenom (Zoustar-Saga Of The Storm, by Real Saga) come through the Alexandria Stakes having finished second and third but the market here has them quite separated, suggesting that Too Darn Lizzie is the one. Phenom has since come to Adelaide where she contested the Gr3 Auraria Stakes (1800m), finishing a solid third with both Cinch (Dundeel-Eye for Fun, by Snitzel) and All Kinds Of Folk (D'Argento-She Brings Hope, by Sebring) which finished ahead of her all, also appearing leading chances for Saturday's race. Having trained two winners of the race in the past with Toffee Tongue (Tavistock) and Egg Tart (Sebring), trainer C J Waller will saddle up last start Mornington Guineas winner Movin Out (Staphanos-Wahaha, by Stravinsky) for Yulong. Although well beaten two starts back (by more than 13 lengths) behind Treasurethe Moment, the filly is a Group 1 performer in New Zealand, and while she may not be up to the class here, you can never discount either Waller or Yulong in the feature races.