The early VRC Oaks markets certainly make for interesting reading. Atlantic Jewel could not have been more impressive in her two most recent wins but she has come up $3.60, and certainly doesn't look certain to run out the 2500m. I'll be looking for some fillies that look better suited to the trip.My current top-pick is DOWAGER QUEEN ($26), pending how she runs in the G1 Flight tomorrow, of course! I thought she ran a nice race behind Streama in the Tea Rose, getting well back but finding the li
The early VRC Oaks markets certainly make for interesting reading. Atlantic Jewel could not have been more impressive in her two most recent wins but she has come up $3.60, and certainly doesn't look certain to run out the 2500m. I'll be looking for some fillies that look better suited to the trip.
My current top-pick is DOWAGER QUEEN ($26), pending how she runs in the G1 Flight tomorrow, of course! I thought she ran a nice race behind Streama in the Tea Rose, getting well back but finding the line well in a race of unsuitably slow tempo. She has put together a very good record racing over sprint-mile distances and I have a suspicion she might flourish over further. She is definitely in the right stable to do so, with the Rogerson's normally having a good handle on their staying juveniles. Definitely one to keep an eye on at a price.
I haven't yet given up on Darley's EURYALE ($21) putting it all together this preparation. She had absolutely no luck second-up over 1400m behind Atlantic Jewel, pretty much going to the line under her own steam having been blocked for a run throughout the straight. She looked strong winning the 1600m Gibson Carmichael at Flemington in the autumn and I am hopeful that she will start improving as the distances stretch out. I expect her to be hitting the line very strongly in the 1600m Chester Manifold on Sunday (Flemington should suit!) and think she is definitely worth a cheeky Oaks bet at the current price.
OUR MISS JONES ($8) is another from the yard of a good trainer of stayers who appears to be crying out for further. She has hit the line strongly in each of her three runs and should at the very least relish a strong mile. Mick Kent has her ticking along beautifully and I would be very surprised if her ultimate aim isn't the Oaks. This daughter of Darci Brahma has been well-found in the market but she is my current top-pick of the early fancies.
BLISS STREET ($10) continues to do nothing wrong but is also looking a little skinny at her current quote, whilst one at a bit of a price might be Our Miss Jones' stablemate PENTIMENTO ($41), who looked quite promising winning over the unusual debut distance of 1750m (she really looks like she'll stay all day).
Finally, good luck all before a truly wonderful weekend's racing, and may So You Think prove his class to the world once again in the Arc!