VRC Oaks 2021: Pro punter preview
Pro punter Trevor Lawson gives us his thoughts on the 2021 VRC Oaks.
VRC Oaks: The track
The rail goes out five metres. There’s a bit of rain about so I think throughout the day they’ll start to look to get away from the fence. How pronounced that is really depends how much rain there is.
VRC Oaks: The speed
The speed here is just just okay. There’s no natural leader, and almost by default I’ve got Fabiola taking it up. None of the main chances in the race are leaders, so it might be a bit of a muddling pace. It’s the first time at the trip for all of them, so none of them will want to voluntarily take it up and potentially do more work than they have to.
VRC Oaks: Runner by runner
ELUSIVE EXPRESS was narrowly beaten in the Thousand Guineas. She’s making a big jump in distance here, though good horses can overcome that. She’s bred stoutly.
Jakkalberry filly Elusive Express relishes the 1610m in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes. pic.twitter.com/Y4wA4n03c1
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 2, 2021
WILLOWY was strong late when winning the Wakeful and backs up quickly here. She gets a good run on the map.
Gr2 Wakeful Stakes winner WILLOWY is SW2 for Kermadec.
1/2 sister to Gr1 Skilled Gr2 Sidestep, Ambidexter & Gr3p Flexible.
Dam Gr2 Dextrous@godolphin @JamesCummings88 @JyeMcNeil @FlemingtonVRC @DarleyAus @vicbreeders pic.twitter.com/2MAJe7J3iP
— Pedigree Update (@pedigreeupdate) October 30, 2021
DAISIES won the Ethereal at Caulfield and ran well in the Wakeful, being narrowly beaten by Willowy. She maps to get a similar run to that.
Daisies breaks her maiden in the G3 Ethereal Stakes. 🌼
She’s a lovely Sebring filly and the Oaks looks ideal.@MickPriceRacing @MichaelRhysKent pic.twitter.com/lhqA5DSasA
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 16, 2021
BISCAYNE BAY ran on okay last start behind Daisies in the Ethereal. So the form ties in with her. I’m not sure she can make up the distance she was beaten by there, however.
DOUCEUR had every possible chance from an inside barrier in the Wakeful. She’s drawn out here so doesn’t look to get as cushy a run this time.
GLINT OF HOPE ran on nicely last start behind Daisies in the Ethereal. She gets Nash Rawiller on here and can settle closer in the run.
TIZ MY BAY worked home fairly well in the Wakeful. Her issue here is she gets a long way back. She’s only a rough chance.
BLACKCOMB put in a good run three runs back At Flemington, but her last two starts have rated down. She gets Lane on here and couple of gear changes. Rough chance.
GONNADANCEALOT, FABIOLA and MORRISSETTE aren’t good enough to figure here.
VRC Oaks: Final thoughts
This is a tricky race to bet in because none of them have been to this distance before, So really, we don’t know what they’re going to do. I have Elusive Express on top at $3.80, from Willowy and Daisies. Tread carefully!
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