Group 1 racing returns to Morphettville on Saturday for 2020 Australasian Oaks Day.
It’s fair to say that Australasian Oaks Day is as good as it gets in South Australia each year – two enormous Group 1 races are ably supported by a further five talent-rich black type contests.
You can find a preview for each race and our 2020 Australasian Oaks Day tips below.
*All races are listed in Australian Eastern time.
There isn’t a whole lot of form to divulge in the lead-up to Race 1, but Zoushine looks to be a talented racehorse and I think that she will break her maiden. The Team McEvoy-trained filly has made only two appearances at the races so far, but she couldn’t have been more impressive without winning in finishing second on both occasions, including the Listed Dequetteville last time out. She doesn’t have to deal with the talented Ecumenical this time and she’s fitter third-up.
This is actually shaping as one of the tougher races to analyse from a betting perspective at Morphettville on Saturday, and there is a case to be made for more than half the field.
It’s a step up in class for three-year-old La Croft, but she was an impressive maiden winner at Strathalbyn last time out and can continue her rise through the grades. The Foxwedge filly has only had the two career starts, having finished second on debut here in December, and there’s no doubt that she’ll enjoy plenty of improvement from her two experiences so far. Everything suggests that she’ll run well again.
Roselli Sting doesn’t know how to run a bad race and this handicap over a mile looks another nice race for him. The veteran son of Casino Prince has missed a place just once in his last ten starts and was last seen mustering an impressive turn of foot to beat a decent field to the line in a similar contest at this track and distance. He’s rock-hard fit and drawn well with the benefit of a claiming apprentice in the saddle. With the Gordon Richards polish, it’s tough imagining him not fighting out the finish.
Sopressa has continued to improve with racing since resuming this time and the Listed Port Adelaide Cup looks a race well within her means. The mare is a Group 1 winner here at Morphettville, having won the Australasian Oaks on this day two years ago, and has she continued to race well throughout her career without quite returning to those lofty heights. She ran home well to finish fourth in the Gold Heath at Caulfield a couple of weeks ago and appears to be crying out for the increased in trip.
Clarice Cliffs has continued to improve with each start back from a spell and is at peak fitness for the Queen Of The South Stakes. The Greg Eurell-trained mare finished fourth behind the likes of Jumbo Ozaki at Flemington three starts back, progressing to a close-up second to Snogging in the Gold Bracelet at Bendigo before winning the Gold Distaff at Caulfield last time out. Getting out to a mile at this point looks perfect for her, and she’s drawn to receive a lovely run from barrier 7. I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.
Garner has continued to improve with racing this time and the Euclase Stakes looks a lovely featured sprint for him. The three-year-old son of Barbados has recorded four race wins and five minor placings from his nine career starts so far and was rewarded for his momentum with a lovely win in the Listed Redelva Stakes over 1100m here two weeks ago. He’s been charged with carrying topweight and will jump from out wide, but Gordon Richards’ horses are absolutely flying at the moment and this bloke is one the more talented runners in his arsenal. More than happy to stay with him for this race.
This is an excellent edition of the Australasian Oaks and there is a genuine case to be made for around half of the capacity field finding their way into the winner’s stall.
I’m eager to lock down the value, given how open a contest this is shaping, and I think that sits with the Mitch Freedman-trained Moonlight Maid. Moonlight Maid stamped herself as a filly to follow during an impressive spring preparation last year, winning the Group 2 Edward Manifold and running third in the VRC Oaks most notably. She’s yet to show her best through two starts this time but has stripped fitter for each and there is no doubt that she’ll relish getting out to 2000m. The $13 on offer for her at publish does look over the odds.
The second Group 1 race of the Adelaide Autumn Carnival also looms as an outstanding contest, with some of the country’s best fillies and mares engaged for a start in the Robert Sangster Stakes. Multiple Group 1 champion Sunlight will step out in this race second-up and has opened a clear favourite, but she has drawn the carpark and I’m worried she’s going to be set too much of a task from the outset.
For that reason, I am more than happy to stick with tough mare I Am Excited, who will have conditions to suit and who has opened at a healthy $11 quote. The Snitzel mare has been a strong and consistent performer for the Pfieffer stable throughout her career, but has clearly gone to another level this preparation, highlighted by a maiden Group 1 win in The Galaxy. She’ll relish a drop in the weights from her most-recent effort, she’s drawn a peach and is rock-hard fit.
CLICK HERE for full 2020 Robert Sangster Stakes Tips & Preview
The three-pronged attack that James Cummings and Godolphin are set to launch in this year’s DC McKay Stakes is simply outstanding – Trekking, Home Of The Brave and Viridine. All are more than up to winning a race of this quality and it would not be surprising to see the famous blue silks complete the trifecta.
Trekking is a Group 1 winner and has tuned up for this race with two starts back from a spell, including a close-up second in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes a couple of weeks ago. 62kgs is a big weight, but he’s the class horse and gets the services of Johnny Allen for this. The other two resumed in the Irwin Stakes here a fortnight ago, running third and fourth behind Gytrash and Sunlight. Clearly the right form for something like this.
I’ll be backing Trekking to win but will also have a saver on Viridine, who tends to enjoy sharp improvement with a run under his belt.