2011 Crown Oaks Preview & Tips

2011 Crown Oaks Preview & Tips

Flemington – Thursday 3 November 2011

The third day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington is Crown Oaks day, also known as Ladies Day. There are nine races and the feature event is the Group 1 $1 million Crown Oaks over 2500m for three-year-old fillies. The set weights race has a field of 11 runners. Boom filly Atlantic Jewel was expected to run in this race, and be the favourite as she has started 4 times for 4 good wins. Unfortunately she tore a hamstring when winning the Wakeful Stakes here by 7 lengths and 5 of the horses that finished behind her make up almost half the field here. The track was rated dead at acceptance time with little change expected before Thursday.

Runners in the 2011 Crown Oaks at Flemington

Dowager Queen ($3.90) is the most experienced of the three-year-old fillies, with 16 race starts in her career. She has won 4 of them and been placed 8 times. Her only start at Flemington was last Saturday when she ran 3^rd to Atlantic Jewel in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes over 2000m, ½ length behind the 2^nd horse Rahveel. She meets that horse 1kg better at the weights and will run well.

Mosheen ($4.40) raced against the older mares on Saturday in the Group 1 Myer Classic over 1600m. She was the only three-year-old in the race and finished 4.6 lengths 6^th behind Hurtle Myrtle. She has raced 8 times for 2 wins and 4 places, but has yet to go beyond 1600m. Very talented, but the distance is a big query.

Rahveel ($6) has raced 6 times and her only win was a 1600m maiden at Bendigo. On Saturday she ran a very determined 2^nd behind Atlantic Jewel, and although that horse won by 7 lengths she held the rest of the field. She is bred to stay and this race is not beyond her based on her effort last start.

Gliding ($7) won the Listed Ethereal Stakes over 2000m on 15 October by 1.5 lengths and was strong at the finish. Last Saturday she finished 4^th in the Wakeful Stakes. Owned and trained by Bart Cummings she is one of the main chances in the race.

Vittoria ($11) showed she was ready for this distance when she finished 4^th in the Ethereal Stakes behind Gliding last start, where she came from last on the bend in the 14 horse field and ground home well. She has one win and two 2nds from 8 starts but appears to go better the further she goes.

Roma Giacondo ($16) has had five starts for a win and two 2nds. She ran 2^nd to Manawanui in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes over 1500m on 24 September, but at her latest start only managed 8^th of 14 in the Ethereal Stakes over 2000m. Looks as if the distance will be too much for her.

Pentimento ($16) is the least experienced filly in the field, with only 3 runs under her belt. At her 2^nd start she won a Pakenham maiden over 1750m, then finished 2.4 lengths 6^th in the Ethereal Stakes, in what looked a solid staying effort.

Jo’s Tips – Crown Oaks

- Top Tip: (4.) Rahveel
- Danger: (3.) Gliding
- Trifecta: (2.) Dowager Queen