The 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival presses on at Flemington on 2024 Crown Oaks Day!
Nine races are headlined by the week’s fifth Group 1 feature race, and some of the best three-year-old fillies in the country will contest the time-honoured Crown Oaks.
You can find my selection in that race and the remaining eight on 2024 Crown Oaks Day below.
Race 1 - 12:40pm AEDT
TCL Trophy (1700m)
Changing Colours only just missed at each of his first two runs back this time and gets a great chance to win on Oaks Day.
The talented mare won on debut at Kyneton in May and was immediately put away, and she’s hit the line in races at Bendigo and Ballarat this time.
Fitter third-up and under James McDonald this time, I think she’s ready to win.
2 Units Changing Colours
Race 2 - 1:15pm AEDT
Listed Racing And Sports Century Stakes (1000m)
I’m keen to give Recommendation another chance when he steps out in the Century Stakes on Thursday.
Having raced competitively in Group 1 company during the autumn this year, the Shalaa gelding couldn’t have been more impressively in each of his first three starts back this time, blowing them away in Group 3 company at each appearance.
He was well beaten in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato two back, but I thought his run in the Schillaci last time was better than the result suggested.
He steps out in peak order and will relish the drop in class.
2 Unit Recommendation
Race 3 - 1:50pm AEDT
Good Friday Appeal Trophy (2000m)
There’s a case to be made for a few of them in the third on Oaks Day including Flamin Romans, who I have on top.
Flamin’ Romans has been racing in consistent form this time and has won two of his last three starts, only just missing on the other occasion.
I loved the way that he let down to get there in BM78 company at Caulfield last time out and while he does rise a few kgs in the weights this week, he’s a horse that I think will relish 2000m at HQ.
1 Unit Flamin’ Romans
Race 4 - 2:30pm AEDT
Inglis Bracelet (1600m)
Poifect looks well placed to bounce back third-up in the Inglis Bracelet.
The Pierro mare was excellent last time in, winning a couple of nice races including the Adelaide Guineas, while she returned to action this season for an eye-catching win in a BM84 at Caulfield.
Having failed to beat a runner home in the Group 2 Blazer Stakes here last time out, I thought the run was simply too bad to be true, and with improved fitness and getting out to the mile this week, it boded very well for a return to winning form.
2 Units Poifect
Race 5 - 3:10pm AEDT
Off The Track Plate (1800m)
Saban is third-up and looks well placed in this 1800m contest on Oaks Day.
The Shamus Award gelding was a consistent performer through his winter campaign this year, concluding with a credible effort for fourth in the Queensland Derby.
Having returned to action to win a BM70 here at Flemington in September, he’s been kept fresh since finishing on the placegetters’ heels at Caulfield in early October.
Fitter third-up and rising in trip, I thought he could fight out the finish once more.
2 Units Saban
Race 6 - 3:50pm AEDT
Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m)
Oh Too Good is the one for me in this year’s Country Final.
Oh Too Good has only made five appearances at the races since debuting, but she’s hardly put a hoof wrong in winning three times and finishing the runner up on the other two occasions.
She blew them away in a heat for this race when resuming this time and will only improve for that effort.
4 Units Oh Too Good
Race 7 - 4:30pm AEDT
Group 3 Red Roses (1100m)
This is a wide-open edition of the Red Roses and at publish, we’re looking at $7 the field
Bold Bastille is yet to strike in three runs back this time, but I think this looks a perfect race for her and I am happy to give her another chance.
Having won four of her first starts during her two-year-old season, the Brazen Beau filly finished fourth behind subsequent Group 1 winner Mornington Glory in the Carlyon Stakes when resuming and was only denied by the classy Bellatrix Star in the Cap D’Antibes second-up.
While she was a little disappointing in the Champagne Stakes at Group 3 level last time out, there’s no denying her fitness this week, while a return to the Flemington straight is also suitable.
2 Units E/W Bold Bastille
Race 8 - 5:10pm AEDT
Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m)
Fourteen three-year-old fillies will chase staying glory in Thursday’s Crown Oaks including Powers Of Opal, who I have put on top.
Powers Of Opal has been a consistent performer in strong company this time in and held on to finish a credible fourth in the Flight Stakes up in Sydney despite being ridden upside down.
Having destroyed a field of maidens two back, she was sent off a short-priced favourite in Saturday’s Wakeful Stakes but only managed to finish second behind runaway winner, Treasurethe Moment.
Regardless of that, I think that getting out to the 2500m and the quick back up are going to suit this galloper, while James McDonald retains the ride and that is obviously a big tick.
3 Units Powers Of Opal
Race 9 - 5:50pm AEDT
Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1600m)
Light Infantry Man finds himself in a winnable race on Oaks Day.
It has been three years since the son of Fast Country won a race, but he’s stripped fitter for some fair efforts this time in, each in tougher races than this one.
He’s hard fit this week, and he might not be offered a better opportunity to win than this.
1 Unit Light Infantry Man