2024 VRC Oaks Day Tips & Preview

Grey Ice is third-up for Bevan Laming and ready to peak. 

The grey mare by Reliable Man was seen charging the line late for fourth last start over the mile at Moonee Valley, a great effort considering she was away awkwardly and held up for a run approaching the 200m mark. 

Keep in mind that was her first start off a four-week break, so she does have scope for improvement out over further now if Craig Williams can offset the wide gate early on.  

Oscar’s Fortune is worth forgiving on his latest run in the G2 McEwen Stakes at The Valley.  

There were no real excuses offered after weakening up on the speed, finishing second last in what was a disappointing effort all around. 

The son of Rich Enuff was enormous fresh in the Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield the run prior though, looking the winner up until the 50m mark where he was headed by the fast-finishing Bellatrix Star, who went on to run second in the Coolmore on Saturday.  

Third-up and back to 1000m now, this sets up as a nice consolation prize in a slightly easier race. 

Alma Rise is the straight bat play with a perfect record to his name over 2000m.  

Peter Moody’s stayer claimed his second win over the trip at Moe last start, wearing down Akrotiri down the outside over his final two or three strides to win right on the line.  

His previous first-up form around Kingswood reads well for this after capping off his autumn as a runner-up in the VRC St Leger here at Headquarters.  

Drawn well, down 1kg at the weights, and seemingly racing with plenty left in the tank, he ticks a few important boxes third-up.  

Running By was down to race on Tuesday but connections have instead opted for this sightlier easier contest.  

Ciaron Maher’s mare clearly never handled the wet conditions in her second start in the Let’s Elope Stakes, tiring late after racing on speed where she was beaten 8.5 lengths in the end.  

Her previous win first-up at Caulfield over The Open was full of merit though, running on late to get the upper hand over the final 100m in a BM84 contest.   

Back on top of the ground now and proven third-up, she looks well-placed to make amends if she gets some early from the wide gate in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes.   

Interesting to see Kettle Hill dropping back to 1700m off a run in the JRA Cup at The Valley a couple of weeks ago.  

The Australian Bloodstock gelding was a little slow away and last rounding the turn, before picking up nicely along the rail to run third. 

He appeared to be doing his best work through the line and was also racing off a five-week break that day, so there is scope for natural improvement. 

Declan Bates rode him to a place four runs back at Caulfield and again in the Gold Nugget, so if the pair can find cover early from a slightly awkward barrier, they should be giving a nice sight over the final stages. 

Go ahead and trust Damian Lane here in what is a typically tough Country Final to try and line up.  

Lane was in charge on Oh Too Good first-up at Geelong a couple of weeks ago first-up, the pair peeling out wide from midfield to let rip down the centre of the straight for a comfortable 1.75-length win.  

This is a much trickier assignment from a horror gate, but the mare by All Too Hard does look the one to beat having found the money in all five races she’s contested so far. 

Tobeornottobe has gone up a big price for a filly that just ran second to Bellatrix Star two back at The Valley.  

As mentioned, that filly went on to run second in the Coolmore last week, so the form stacks up nicely if you’re willing to overlook her latest effort in the Thousand Guineas Prelude three weeks ago.  

Zac Purton said after that race that the daughter of Pierata clearly didn’t see out the 1400m that day, so this is obviously a nice step back in distance from a perfect gate with Ethan Brown getting a crack in the saddle.  

Proven here at Flemington and likely to race on speed, she should be one of the hardest to catch off a three-week break.  

Hurry Curry was scratched from the Derby on Saturday when she reared at the gates causing Jamie Kah to sustain a face injury.  

The Kiwi-bred daughter of Ocean Park finished midfield the start prior in the Ethereal Stakes, having her chance at a hat-trick denied when she never really let down with her usual turn of foot after working to the outside from midfield 

That said, she’s had two solid runs over 1800m and 2000m to get her ready for this, while the magic man Joao Moreira also gets a crack in the saddle this time chasing his first Oaks win.  

Drawn a tidy gate and likely to settle midfield, this looks a nice setup for her back on her home track. 

Poison Chalice presents fitter third-up for Paul Preusker. 

A five-year-old son to Savabeel, his effort first-up at Caulfield was impressive, winning by well clear of a length when he found clear air at the 100m mark to go clear.  

Things never really went to plan last start at The Valley, storming into the finish before he ran into the back of Royal Champion right before the line and was forced to settle for fifth. 

Third-up now and just needing luck to slot across early form out wide, his class should take him a long way here.