The 2014 Melbourne Cup Carnival rages on with its second instalment of race days – today it is Crown Oaks Day, or Ladies Day as it’s commonly called.
Go Indy Go is favourite to win the 2014 Crown Oaks, despite not winning a race since April. Photo by Steve Hart.
A classy field of 12 three-year-old fillies is set to contest today’s feature race, the Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m), with betting tips set out below.
Half of the field are single figure hopefuls, with six fillies offering odds of $8 or less in the Crown Oaks betting market at Ladbrokes.com.au. Go Indy Go ($4.40) and Lumosty ($4.80) have been contesting favouritism with each other over the past couple of days, but Go Indy Go has seen a lot of support coming in. The market mover of the field has shortened from $5.50 to $4.40.
Will the Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas-trained filly justify her favouritism despite not scoring a win since back in April? Or will one of the other classy fillies take out the title? With none of the runners being tested over the 2500m distance of the Crown Oaks yet, it could be anyone’s game.
Check out our tips for the first three home below to help you get a better idea of who to beat on.
1st
#5 Thunder Lady ($7.50)
The Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) is by far the best guide to the Oaks, with 14 of the last 20 winners coming via the Wakeful and eight of those completed the double. John Sargent’s Thunder Lady was strong in winning the race last start, and could become the ninth Wakeful Stakes/Crown Oaks double winner. She appreciated both the roomy Flemington track and the step up in trip on Saturday, which indicates she’ll run well again. She is offering a good price for those looking to back a winner.
2nd
#1 Fontein Ruby ($15)
Support for the Robert Smerdon-trained Fontein Ruby has waned ever since she finished sixth in the Wakeful. Once the early favourite in the Crown Oaks betting, she is offering a fantastic price for punters. Fontein Ruby has already had four spring starts, so could be wearing herself out, but after back-to-back wins in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) and Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) she shouldn’t be discounted. The filly was inconvenienced early in the Wakeful but pushed on to second before finding the front. She was still there early in the straight but couldn’t find the win like usual.
3rd
#4 Lumosty ($4.80)
Just like 2011 Crown Oaks winner Mosheen, Lumosty will head to the race stepping straight up from the mile, unlike everyone else who ran at 2000m last time out. Mosheen did it for Robert Smerdon, and Lumosty can too. The filly has yet to show how good she really is but all signs point to a winner. She impressed with a nine length maiden victory on October 1 before easily winning the Group 2 Fillies Classic (1600m) last time out. She worked well to find the lead and controlled the speed from there before taking off with 250m to go and winning with plenty of ease.
Do you agree with our 2014 Crown Oaks tips? Back them at Ladbrokes.com.au today. Get a little bit extra with the online bookmaker in the race with Best Tote or SP + 20%. That means an additional 20% on your winnings!
