Lumosty and Go Indy Go are on top of the 2014 Crown Oaks tips of form analyst Daniel O’Sullivan and he believes that the two fillies are clearly the horses to beat in the Group 1 event at Flemington this afternoon.
Smartform’s Daniel O’Sullivan has Lumosty on top of his 2014 Crown Oaks selections. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Lumosty was beaten as favourite in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 11, but still showed an impressive turn-of-foot in the final stages of the race before she returned to winning form with a dominant performance in the Group 2 Drummond Golf Fillies Classic (1600m) at Moonee Valley on October 25.
O’Sullivan told RSN that he believes that Lumosty is the most talented horse in the 2014 Crown Oaks field and he said that he is more than happy with back the Fastnet Rock filly at her current Crown Oaks odds of $5.50.
“On quality her overall figures are the best in this field and we have seen that she really does have quite a sharp turn-of-foot, which could be the big difference here,” O’Sullivan said.
“From a betting perspective at around $5 or $5.50 for her, I think that she is a great gamble in this race.”
Go Indy Go is yet to record a race win during her 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign, but she hit the line strongly when third behind Moonovermanhattan and Atmosphere in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) on Cox Plate Day.
The Bernardini filly hit the line in a similar manner to Bondeiger, who went on to finish a tough second behind Preferment in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m), and O’Sullivan believes that the three-year-old can hit the line strongly in the Crown Oaks this afternoon.
“Go Indy Go is another interesting runner,” O’Sullivan said.
“She came out of a below average run Vase and she came home in very strong sectionals.
“Most notably it was a very similar sectional shape in that race to Bondeiger and that gives the clear message that the more ground the better.
“We saw that bare out with Bondeiger significantly improving his rating when he was second in the Derby on Saturday.
“Go Indy Go has both a good turn-of-foot and also looks to have good staying potential and I think that versatility makes her very effective in both pace scenarios.
“The other runners in Crafty, Set Square and horses like that I can’t really entertain them here because of the potential pace difference.”
Go Indy Go is currently available at 2014 Crown Oaks odds of $4.40 and is a narrow favourite from Lumosty ($4.80), Crafty ($5), Thunder Lady ($7.50) and Set Square ($7.50).
