The Melbourne Cup Carnival rolls on with another exciting edition of the Kennedy Oaks on Thursday!
Won by many talented fillies on their way to stardom, the Kennedy Oaks is always a highlight of the Flemington spring, and there’s already been interest for several confirmed starters in betting.
You can find my 2023 Kennedy Oaks Tips below!
Suggested Bets
- 4 Units straight out #2 Zardozi
- 1 Unit E/W #8 Aethelflaed
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below
Up until Derby Day, I was actually pretty keen on Tropical Squall, but then Zardozi cannoned herself to the top of my Oaks numbers.
Zardozi did stamped herself as one to watch when debuting in the autumn for three-consecutive wins, highlighted by her triumph in the Clarendon Stakes at Hawkesbury.
She needed her first couple back this time to tune up, but returned to winning form in the Group 2 Edward Manifold early last month, before absolutely attacking the line to only just miss behind Amazonian Lass in the Wakeful Stakes just a few days ago.
The Wakeful form has held up many times in recent years, and I don’t think there’s any doubt that this girl was the run of the race.
James McDonald rides and I am confident that Zardozi will be the Kennedy Oaks winner.
Tropical Squall remains a great chance, I certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see her fight into the Kennedy Oaks winner’s stall.
The Prized Icon filly has made just five appearances at the races since debuting, and won the Group 1 Flight Stakes at just her four start.
She was denied by half a length in the Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield on Caulfield Cup Day, but she steps out this week in peak order, and breeding suggests that she’ll relish the 2500m.
Another eye-catching run in the Wakeful Stakes was produced by Aethelflaed, and she could very well be the value in Kennedy Oaks betting ($11 at publish).
Aethelflaed has made just four appearances at the races since debuting and she has continued to improve with each; recording an easy win in Class 1 company at Kembla Grange two starts back, before keeping her best work for late here at HQ on the weekend.
She’s another that looks as though she’ll eat up the 2500m, and the booking of Mark Zahra certainly doesn’t hinder her chances of success.
Wakeful Stakes winner Amazonian Lass is obviously more than worthy of her position in the Kennedy Oaks field, I just wonder if a couple of these rivals will prove far too strong for her over the longer trip.
That being said, she has continued to improve as the bar has been raised, and her win on the weekend was very impressive.
She’s hard fit, and jockey Tim Clark understandably retains the ride.