1/ Verry Elleegant (NZ) (3f Zed (NZ) x
Opulence (NZ) (Danroad) – Started one of the favourites in the Oaks in the
spring but found wanting. Has really hit her straps this campaign though, a
more tractable horse and relishing the wet tracks with two dominant wins at her
last two runs.Her Oaks failure in the spring was far more likely the result of her own misbehaviour rather than any genetic shortcoming in the stamina department. Her sire Zed is a blue blooded Zabeel stallion from the Cotehele House branch of the Eight Carat family and her dam traces to the same mare Cotehele House, who is best known as the dam of Danewin, who won five G1's and was an unlucky second in the VRC and AJC Derbies.
2/ Aristia (3f Lonhro x Nakaaya (Tiger Hill (IRE)) – Winner of the Kennnedy Oaks in the spring and building nicely in the autumn with three placings from her three runs so far. Only two wins have come in dry conditions although last couple of runs suggest she'll handle anything.
Proven at the trip, which is somewhat unusual for a Lonhro, but she would get plenty of stamina from her dam sire Tiger Hill, a 2400m G1 winner from a stout German family.
3/ Frankely Awesome (3f Frankel (GB) x Street Secret (USA) (Street Cry (IRE )) – Improved two runs back when placed against the older mares at Kembla Grange and really put the writing on the wall with an impressive second in the Gr.1 Vinery behind Verry Elleegant last start. Her preparation looks beautifully timed and a soft track would certainly be to her liking.
Have to confess I've been half in love with this girl since she had her first start last year. She was a big raw beast of a girl back then and is really only now starting to come into her own. Pedigree wise, she's got it all in her favour being by world champion Frankel from a stakes-winning daughter of Winx's sire Street Cry in Street Secret, whose dam is a sibling to German G1 2400m winner Anzillero.
Look a little further back and that's when it gets really interesting as Frankely Awesome's fourth dam is Allegretta, and she's the dam of Arc winner and legendary blue hen Urban Sea, the dam of champion racehorses and sires Galileo and Sea the Stars. She's a queen on pedigree, just needs a G1 win on the track!
4/ Imelda Mary (NZ) (3f Ferlax (NZ) x Eleesha (Encosta De Lago) – Failed in the NZ Oaks a month back when she had a tough run. Had two Group two 2000m wins from her previous four runs.
She might be bred in New Zealand, but her female family is all Australian speed featuring Champion 2YO Filly Fashions Afield and Group I winning sprinter Wrap Around. I'm not seeing this as a long distance staying pedigree.
5/ Maracaibo (3f Redoute's Choice x Spanish Lake (Encosta De Lago) – Won a restricted race in South Australia two runs back before fought on well when on-pace and placed in the Adrian Knox Stakes last Saturday.
By a champion sire that has had his share of Oaks winners and is from a classy family going back to Classic winners English Wonder, Dr Grace and Asia, so am hardly going to pot her on pedigree.
6/ Aliferous (3f Hinchinbrook x Willow
(Woodman (USA)) – Country maiden winner two starts back before beaten in a
Benchmark 64 but put herself into this race last Saturday with the fast
finishing win in the Adrian Knox Stakes.Bred by one of the best breeders of stayers in the country in Trevor Delroy which is enough to prick your ears and is the third stakes-winner up to 2000m from Willow. Being by a sprinter in Hinchinbrook might make the additional 400m a test, but if anyone can breed an Oaks winner by Hinchinbrook it will be Trevor.
7/ Scarlet Dream (3f Sebring x Asylum Seeker (SAF) (Count Dubois (GB)) – Hit the line nicely in the Gr.3 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) two starts back but never in the hunt in the heavy ground after some early trouble in the Vinery Stakes last start.
Sebring is a versatile sire that has had a couple of Classic winners, but dam was a speed horse and the Champion 2YO Filly in South Africa, so is not a pedigree that really screams Oaks.
8/ Clementina (3f Savabeel x Patrimonium (IRE) (Green Desert (USA)) – Maiden after six starts but she did finish second in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase at Ellerslie two runs back and didn't have much luck in the NZ Oaks when fourth last start. Didn't show up in the Adrian Knox last weekend but the stable is renowned for winning the big Australian staying races.
By champion staying sire Savabeel and claims European blue hen Reprocolour as her fourth dam so she's definitely bred to be an Oaks filly !
9/ Autumn (3f Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Spring Venture (USA) (Spring At Last (USA)) – Has won a couple of provincial races but never a threat when stepped up to the Group One grade in the Vinery last start in heavy conditions.
By an outstanding sire and female pedigree is a classy US Black Type family with a number of staying type stakes-winners, so am not going to rule her out on pedigree, although her form is not good enough on face value.
10/ Rocknavar (3f Fastnet Rock x Carrignavar (USA) (Tale Of The Cat (USA)) – Had been honest with two wins and two placings in northern NSW and Brisbane before off a four week break and beaten two lengths in the Adrian Knox last weekend.
By champion sire that has produced his share of Oaks winners and is from a big European Black Type family, although first two dams being by Tale of the Cat and Dayjur does not suggest depths of stamina.
11/ Romani Girl (NZ) (3f Reliable Man (GB) x Gypsy Jewels (Jade Robbery (USA)) – Hasn't been beaten far although hasn't been a likely contender either in her last two starts in the tougher grades, the latest of which was a two length 10th in the Adrian Knox last Saturday.
By the sire of New Zealand Oaks winner Sentimental Miss, but is a half-sister to juvenile stakes-winner The Travelling Man and none of her four siblings have won beyond 1400m. Female family largely Aussie speed, so Reliable Man will be doing the heavy lifting if she gets over the line first.
12/ Mrs Madrid (3f Fastnet Rock x Lady Of Spain (Encosta De Lago)) – Solid 6th in the Adrian Knox last Saturday. Had won two Maiden/Class 1 2000m races back in February.
By a champion sire and is from a daughter of Queensland Oaks winner Zagalia, who is by Zabeel, so not hard to see why they are thinking Oaks with this girl.
13/ Bye Bye Belle (3f Cape Blanco (IRE) x Teardrop Island (NZ) (Fastnet Rock)) – Broke the maiden over 1950 in provincial Victoria before beaten less than two lengths in the Adrian Knox last weekend.
By an Irish Derby winner and first three dams by Fastnet Rock, Zabeel and Secretariat, nothing not to like there.
14/ Miss Moana (3f Uncle Mo (USA) x Coral Reef (Galileo (IRE)) – Has only moderate and mixed provincial form overall although was thrown into the Kennedy Oaks in the spring and didn't disgrace herself when 9th after a very tough run. Stable have a good record in Oaks races.
Full sister to Hollywood Mo, who was placed in a Geelong Classic and then was sixth in the VRC Derby and eighth in the Australian Derby. Dam is by Galileo which is a help with the stamina and third dam Knight's Baroness won the Irish Oaks, but hard to see her going much better than her brother.
15/ Happy Every Day (3f Pierro x Pink Princess (Danehill (USA)) – Battling in easier races and wilted out of it after leading when tested at stakes level last start.
Pierro already has an Oaks and a Derby winner on his resume, but am not thinking Happy Every Day will add to the tally given she comes from an under performing branch of the Fanfreluche family which is not noted for stamina.
Tips
1/ Frankely Awesome
2/ Verry Elleegant
3/ Aristia
Roughie Mrs Madrid
