The Group 1 Kennedy Oaks (2500m) headlines day three of the 2020 Melbourne Cup Carnival on Thursday as a field of 14 fillies hope to claim a share of the $1 million prize money at Flemington.
Back to back Group 1 winner Montefilia has been installed as the short-priced favourite with Ladbrokes bookmakers ahead of Personal and Miravalle, who both finished top four in last Saturday’s Group 2 Wakeful Stakes.
Oaks Day is always one of the highlights of the Spring, and we’ve cast our eyes across all nine race below!
November Dreaming couldn’t have been more impressive first-up at Geelong and looks more than ready for the step up to the mile now.
Craig Williams timed his run to perfection from midfield before bursting clear over the final furlong to win by two lengths and he should be able to take a similar sit from barrier 7.
The mare by Tavistock ran well at Flemington over further back in May and has also won over the mile previously. Williams knows this horse inside and out, and with a perfect 2-0 record second-up, she is the one to beat.
2 Units November Dreaming
Not a whole lot of exposed form to go on, but this does shape up as an interesting race between the fillies.
Fake Love won under hands and heels quite comfortably on debut at Caulfield and should take a power of beating if Mark Zahra goes straight to the front again.
Naples comes out of the same race where she battled home for third after making up a stack of ground coming out of the turn. She’s drawn the rails this time around giving John Allen plenty of options to work with.
Tempest Charm might be the one at value coming off a very strong third on debut in the 2YO Inglis Banner at Moonee Valley.
She struck a wet track that day but absolutely flew home to finish only 1.5L behind Sneaky Five on the widest part of the track. If Jye McNeil can offset the wide draw, she’s a real chance.
1 Unit Naples
Graff finally rewarded punters’ patience last start at Caulfield, exploding with a huge run out wide to nab Fabergino right on the line in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m).
The Australian Bloodstock gelding has won previously second-up and should get the gun run under Damien Oliver again from barrier 3.
Crystal Dreamer comes out of the same race where he finished third. The old boy has found the money in all three of his runs over this track and distance, but he does look a slight query here from out wide after hitting a bit of a flat spot late.
Fiesta exploded with a big run on the outside fence to win Saturday’s Group 3 Furphy Sprint (1100m) from well back in the field.
She gets in light again at the weights and there’s every chance Hugh Bowman rides her off the speed again from the wide draw.
The girls have upstaged the boys for most of the Carnival so far and the short backup looks a nice option for her.
2 Units Fiesta
Irish Flame raced three-wide a fortnight ago at The Valley and showed an enormous turn of foot to hold off Inverloch over the mile and a half. The step back to the 1800m looks a nice option, but he’d probably prefer a bit of sting out of the track.
Adelaide Ace found the line strongly for fourth last start over the 1500m at Moonee Valley and everything suggests he should appreciate getting out over further now.
Savaheat is a two-time winner over the track and distance and should take real improvement out of his first-up run when fifth at Caulfield.
The son of Savabeel was held up down the straight but showed some real burst once he got clear.
He’s a proven second-up performer and should come close with 2kg off his back.
1 Unit E/W Savaheat
Sky Punch warrants plenty of respect in his return to Melbourne with five wins on the board over the trip down south.
Michael Hickmott’s six-year-old has also won twice first-up in the past, although Mark Zahra does have his work cut out here from the wide draw.
Caffrey is a proven first-up performer and capped off his last campaign with back-to-back wins over the 1400m at Geelong and Sandown.
This is his first look at Flemington, but the Irish raider should be afforded every chance from the rails draw with Luke Nolen on board.
1 Unit Caffrey
I Am Eloquent was unlucky not to score in her last start when second to Sovereign Award in the Group 3 Tesio Stakes at Moonee Valley.
On speed was the place to be that day on the wet track, but the way she ran down the winner suggests she should see be hard to beat with a more even tempo.
Wary of Strome’s record over this trip with two wins to her name. The Smart Missile mare won her last start at Caulfield over the 1400m and has the added luxury of the red-hot Jamie Kah in the saddle.
Re Edit does his best racing fresh, while Miss Inbetween looks a good bet for the minors stepping back in grade after running third in the Group 2 Fillies Classic last start over the mile at The Valley.
2 Units I Am Eloquent
Indiana Lilly found one better in her last start when a head second to High Excalebration on the Heavy 10 at Sale.
Shea Eden’s mare looked the winner with a lovely run along the rails but struggled to show her usual turn of foot on the sticky track. She should appreciate a much firmer surface this time with a little more running room out wide.
Vungers strips fitter for his last start second at Horsham and has drawn a handy gate with Brad Rawiller steering.
Kaplumpich and Katsuma come out of the same race at Geelong where both hit the line strongly for a place behind Polanco.
Kaplumpich has found the money at Flemington in the past and looks a decent each way bet with a win to his name over the mile.
1 Unit Indiana Lilly
1 Unit E/W Kaplumpich
Montefilia is shooting for a Group 1 hat-trick in her Melbourne debut after winning the Flight Stakes and the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick last month.
David Payne’s three-year-old was simply outstanding last start beating home Lion’s Roar by a length and looks very tough to beat coming off a freshen-up.
Personal is on the short backup coming off last week’s runner-up to Victoria Quay in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m).
The daughter of Fastnet Rock looked the winner over the final furlong before she was run down by Jamie Kah.
The Wakeful is always a great form line heading into this race and with Damien Oliver shooting for his fifth Oaks win, there’s a lot to like about the pair stepping out over further.
Miravalle made up big ground from last to fourth in the Wakeful and the way she hit the line late suggests she’ll handle the step up in trip.
The daughter of Redoute’s Choice is a big strong filly that now has maturity and race fitness on her side. She’s been thereabouts all prep and should enjoy a lovely patient ride from Craig Williams.
2 Units Miravalle
Wide open race to end the day and you could easily make a case for almost half the field.
Written Beauty has gone to another level this time in reeling off a pair of comfortable wins at Canterbury and Moonee Valley in succession.
William Pike has his work cut out this time around from barrier 16, but if he gets across early, the pair can figure.
Mildred has form around last Saturday’s Coolmore winner September Run after finishing sixth in the Listed Poseidon Stakes two runs back over the track and distance.
Again, barrier 11 makes things a little difficult for Jordan Childs, but the filly’s strike rate at Flemington is worth taking into account.
Bella Nipotina and Minhaaj have both placed in their last two runs and can figure.
2 Units Mildred E/W