Victorian filly Jameka is at the top of the betting for the Group 1 $1m James Boags Premium Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday as she chases her second Oaks’ trophy.
Jameka will run the favourite in the Australian Oaks at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Jameka was a classy winner of the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival and has been installed the $3.60 favourite for the Australian Oaks.
Caulfield trainer Ciaron Maher has given Jameka a solid grounding heading into the Australian Oaks, including racing against the colts and in the geldings in last week’s Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick.
Jameka ran a great race from a wide barrier to finish second to Kiwi three year old Tavago and Damien Oliver will have to ride another well judged race from the outside gate again.
“She was brave once again and she’s back to the fillies now,” Oliver told racing.com.
“It’s (not) a gimme – there’s some nice horses there and she’s got an awkward draw but she’s been most consistent throughout her career and we expect another big run on Saturday.”\
Oliver is not concerned if the Randwick track remains wet for day two of ‘The Championships’ with Jameka having recorded her Crown Oaks on a heavy track.
“The wet track doesn’t concern me – she’s shown that she can handle that before but it would’ve been nice to draw a good gate on her to give her a cosy run.”
The lightly raced Happy Hannah is on the second line of betting at $4.60 following her impressive third behind Single Gaze and Valley Girl in the Group 1 $500,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 26.
The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Happy Hannah was only having her fifth race start when she lined up in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes but showed she had plenty of staying ability in making up lots of ground from the back to finish only one length from the winner.
Blake Shinn sticks with Happy Hannah who will has drawn midfield at seven.
The three New Zealand fillies are next in the market order with Capella at $7.50 and Valley Girl and Sofia Rosa sharing the next lining of betting at $8.50.
Capella finished less than to lengths behind the Single Gaze when fifth in the Vinery Stud Stakes while Sofia Rosa will be having her first start in Australia after running second in the Group 1 NZ$300,000 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 19.
Australian Oaks market Order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.60 Jameka, $4.60 Happy Hannah, $7.50 Capella, $8.50 Sofia Rosa, Valley Girl, $11 Honesta, $15 Single Gaze, $18 Sacred Eye, $26 Alaskan Rose, $34 Diamond Made, Self Esteem, $41 Chabaud, Ambience, $51 Believe, $101 Zasorceress, Aurora’s Star.
