Track: Good   Weather: Fine

There is a full field of 14 runners for the $1.000,000 VRC Oaks. Five of them had their last start in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes over 2000m, and five of them had their last start in the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes over 2000m. The early favourite is Montefilia who has been racing in Sydney and has won the Group 1 Flight Stakes and the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes at her last two starts and looks as if the extra distance won’t be a problem. Second favourite is Personal who has been runner-up in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude, Group 1 Thousand Guineas and G2 Wakeful Stakes at her last three starts. Third favourite is Miravalle who was slowly away, settle well back and ran on strongly for 4th in the Wakeful Stakes last outing.

Tyche Goddess got to the lead but was headed at the 100m to finish 3rd in the Wakeful, so the trip is a query for her.  Star Of Eden is the least experienced runner in the field with only three race starts and is one of the five maiden runners in the field but she has placed at all 3 starts. Salto Angel finished 2nd in the Ethereal Stakes then ran 5th in the Wakeful. Cafe Rizu didn’t have much luck when 7th in the Ethereal and should improve on that, while Vilanculos is a maiden who ran well for 3rd in the Geelong Classic last start. All other runners are currently 50 to 1 or longer.

1. Montefilia

has been racing in Sydney and has won the Group 1 Flight Stakes and the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes at her last two starts and looks as if the extra distance won’t be a problem

2. Personal

has been runner-up in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude, Group 1 Thousand Guineas and G2 Wakeful Stakes at her last three starts

3. Cafe Rizu

didn’t have much luck when 7th in the Ethereal and should improve on that,

4. Succeed Indeed

She ran 6th in the Ethereal Stakes and then 7th in the Wakeful Stakes. She gets blinkers on for the first time but needs to find another length or two.

5. Salto Angel

finished 2nd in the Ethereal Stakes then ran 5th in the Wakeful

6. Miravalle

was slowly away, settle well back and ran on strongly for 4th in the Wakeful Stakes last outing.

7. Tyche Goddess

got to the lead but was headed at the 100m to finish 3rd in the Wakeful, so the trip is a query for her

8. Biarchi

The best roughie in the race, Her wins are a maiden plate at Murray Bridge and a BM58 handicap at Morphettville but I think she can make her presence felt and wouldn’t be surprised if she placed here.

9. Star Of Eden

is the least experienced runner in the field with only three race starts and is one of the five maiden runners in the field but she has placed at all 3 starts.

10. Art Glass

She won a Geelong maiden over 2265m on a heavy track then only plugged for 8.2 lengths 11th in the Ethereal. Might be a wet-tracker.

11. Vilanculos

a maiden who ran well for 3rd in the Geelong Classic last start

12. Hard Squeeze

Won an Echuca maiden over 2124m by 5 lengths last start, but this is a massive rise in class.

13. Yatton

Fourth in the Oaks trial then 10th in the Ethereal. Looking elsewhere.

14. Swindon Lass

Fifth in the Oaks trial then 12th in the Ethereal. Not here.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips
1 Montefilia
6 Miravalle
2 Personal
5 Salto Angel

Group 3 Ottawa Stakes 2020 (Flemington 1000m)

Group 3 Red Roses Stakes 2020 (Flemington 1100m)