The Melbourne Cup Carnival continues on Thursday at Flemington with Kennedy Oaks Day.
The Kennedy Oaks headlines the action, but there is plenty of value to be found spread right across the entire card.
We have analysed every race on the card and our complete 2021 Kennedy Oaks Day tips can be found below.
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Race 1 – 12:40pm – TCL TV Stakes (1700m)
This is a tough way to start the day and there are a host of winning chances.
Showtime Lady looks set to be able to find the lead fairly comfortably and she could prove tough to run down.
Her recent form has been good enough to win this race and she appeals at her current quote of $9.50.
Race 2 – 1:15pm – Inglis Bracelet (1600m)
Sirileo Miss is deserving of her status as a clear favourite in Inglis Bracelet betting.
She has scored three wins from as many starts this campaign and the scary thing for her rivals is that she has improved each time that she has been seen at the races.
The Pride Of Dubai mare showed that she is capable of running out a strong mile with her win in the Ladies’ Day Vase and this contest is no tougher.
Craig Williams in the saddle is a positive and she can make it four wins on the trot.
Race 3 – 1:55pm – Group 3 Darley Ottawa Stakes (1000m)
This is one of the toughest races of the day as the majority of the field will be making their Australian racing debuts.
On exposed form, Kiki Express does look to have an edge over the rest of this field.
She showed a nice turn-of-foot on debut to scored a narrow win over Brereton in the Debutant Stakes and she should take good improvement from that effort.
There are still too many unknowns to bet into this race with any real confidence.
Race 4 – 2:35pm – Twitter Trophy (1800m)
Adelaide Ace is the value runner in what is an incredibly open betting race.
He isn’t the most consistent horse in the world, but he is capable of a high-rating performance on his day and there was a lot to like about his second place finish in the Gold Nugget at Ballarat last start.
Blaike McDougall will settle him right on the speed from barrier five and he has an excellent chance to return to winning form.
Race 5 – 3:15pm – Listed Desirable Stakes (1400m)
New York Baby is a filly that I have plenty of time for and she is outstanding value at her current quote in Desirable Stakes betting.
She finished a narrow second behind Sneaky Five in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes at Caulfield and she wasn’t beaten far at The Valley last start.
I don’t think that this race is any tougher and she will have every possible chance in the run from barrier one with Damien Oliver in the saddle.
Race 6 – 3:50pm – Listed G.H. Mumm Century Stakes (1000m)
Malkovich is deserving of his status as a clear favourite in the Century Stakes.
He returned to the races with a close second behind Oxley Road in the Caulfield Sprint and that was the first time that he has been beaten over 1000 metres.
The Choisir entire has speed to burn and he looks well-suited to the Flemington straight.
It will take a good horse to run him down.
Race 7 – 4:30pm – Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m)
The wide barrier draw isn’t ideal, but Riot And Rose is still good enough to defend his unbeaten record in the Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Cup Final.
He showed his quality with a string of impressive performances in his maiden racing campaign and he did enough to get the job done first-up at Horsham.
There is no doubt that he will take good improvement on that effort and the step-up to a mile suits.
Luke Nolen will settle him in the second half of the field and he will be storming home in the concluding stages.
Race 8 – 5:10pm – Group 1 Kennedy Oaks (2500m)
This is not the strongest edition of the Kennedy Oaks and it is a tricky race from a betting perspective.
The Wakeful Stakes is traditionally the strongest form line for the Kennedy Oaks, but that did look like a weak edition of that race and the overall time was poor.
It is a tough task to jump from the 1600 metres of the Thousand Guineas to the 2500 metres of the Kennedy Oaks, but we saw Hitotsu do it in the Victoria Derby and Elusive Express can replicate that in this contest.
She was excellent in the Edward Manifold Stakes and she stormed home late to finish second in the Thousand Guineas.
The Jakkalberry filly looks as though she will handle the step-up in trip and barrier eight suits.
Race 9 – 5:50pm – Network 10 Red Roses Stakes (1100m)
Seradess has scored three wins from her five race starts and she finds herself in another winnable contest in the Red Roses Stakes.
She stormed home late to win the Scarborough Stakes at The Valley a couple of starts ago and she ran the fastest closing sectionals in the race in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes at Caulfield last start.
The Flemington straight suits her and I think that she will be storming home late.
