We’re back to Flemington on Thursday for the time-honoured and popular Kennedy Oaks Day!
Another nine races will be run and won on the 2023 Melbourne Cup Carnival’s third program, headlined by the $1 million Kennedy Oaks for three-year-old fillies.
I’ve had a look into the form of every galloper engaged, and you can find all of my thoughts and 2023 Kennedy Oaks Day Tips below.
Group 3 Darley Ottawa Stakes (1000m) – 12:40pm AEDT
Typically, there isn’t a lot of form to study ahead of the Darley Ottawa Stakes, but I am keen to have something small on Hayasugi.
Hayasugi has made just one appearance at the races so far, and finished off well for second, though well beaten by Bold Bastille at The Valley on Cox Plate Day.
With natural improvement, I think she can fight into the finish again on Oaks Day.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Hayasugi
TCL Trophy (1700m) – 1:15pm AEDT
There is a case to be made for a few of them in this contest, but I am happy to have something on Winx’s sister, City Of Lights, at a nice price.
By Deep Impact and out of the same mare as Winx, Vegas Showgirl, City Of Lights has made just three appearances at the races so far, but has won two of them.
Any improvement on her second-up effort and win in BM72 company at Randwick-Kensington, and I think she’ll be right in the finish again.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 City Of Lights
Good Friday Appeal Trophy (2000m) – 1:50pm AEDT
Kettle Hill steps out this week third-up, and I think that this looks a really nice race for him.
The Maher & Eustace-trained galloper ended his last prep with a couple of nice placings here at Flemington, and he ran home fairly to finish fifth, beaten just over a length at Sandown in September.
I thought it was decent when fourth beaten just over two lengths in BM80 company at Caulfield last time out, and a return to Flemington and 2000m this week looks ideal.
Suggested Bet: No. 7 Kettle Hill
Inglis Bracelet (1600m) – 2:30pm AEDT
I would have given Roots a rather good chance of fighting into the finish of the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes last weekend, and so I think that the Inglis Bracelet looks very winnable for her.
The Press Statement mare has been a great horse for the Waller yard throughout her career, and returned a nice performance to finish just over a length behind the winner at Rosehill first-up last month.
She was luckless in running in The Invitation last time out, but fitter third-up and out to the mile, I think she’ll receive every chance on Thursday.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Roots
Listed G.H. Mumm Century Stakes (1000m) – 3:10pm AEDT
He’s on the short back up from an exceptional performance and win in the Rising Fast Stakes on Derby Day, and a repeat will surely see Spacewalk just winning again on Oaks Day.
Spacewalk has always been a quality galloper, and he ended his last prep with an eye-catching win in the June Stakes, but it is fair to say that he has gone to another level this time.
Having returned to win in BM100 company, the Exosphere gelding just missed in the Caulfield Sprint, but couldn’t have been more impressive last week.
He’s hard fit, James McDonald is a bonus, and I think he will win again.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Spacewalk
Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m) – 3:50pm AEDT
This is always one of the most open races during the Melbourne Cup Carnival every year, and there’s a case to be made for a few of them in the County Final, including Belthil!
We’ve been with Belthil at each of his last two starts; when he won at Caulfield on Neds Coongy Cup Day, and when he filled the minors on Geelong Cup Day at his latest.
He’s hard fit, he’s in form and he just needs some luck in running from out wide this week.
At current odds, we can have another each way play.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Belthil
Group 3 Red Roses Stakes (1100m) – 4:30pm AEDT
Julius Sandhu’s stable is absolutely flying, and I think that Excess can deliver another black type win in Thursday’s Red Roses.
Excess has made just two appearances at the races so far, but stamped herself as one to watch by winning on debut at Cranbourne, before keeping on well for second, beaten only a head at Caulfield on Neds Guineas Day.
This is harder, but she has plenty of upside, Beau Mertens is riding in exceptional form, and we can have an each way play at current odds ($11 at publish).
Suggested Bet: No. 13 Excess
Group 1 Kennedy Oaks (2500m) – 5:10pm AEDT
The fifth Group 1 of the Melbourne Cup Carnival will see a quality field of fourteen fillies step out in the Kennedy Oaks!
I’ve put Zardozi on top of my selections, but check out my full race preview and complete 2023 Kennedy Oaks Tips RIGHT HERE.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Zardozi
Cirka Trophy (1800m) – 5:50pm AEDT
Gregolimo doesn’t know how to run a bad race, and he can return to winning form in the last on Oaks Day.
The Mike Moroney-trained import ended his European tenure with a lovely win over 2000m in France back in November of last year, and he debuted in Australia to finish second, beaten a length and a half by the in-form Muramasa over a mile here in September.
He found that galloper, and Diamil, just a little too sharp in the Neds Coongy Cup last time out, but fitter third-up and dropping in class, I think he’s going to take beating in something like this.
Suggested Bet: No. 4 Gregolimo
