The third program of the Flemington Carnival is headlined by the Kennedy Oaks, and fourteen three-year-old fillies will seek their share in $1 million on Thursday afternoon.
Montefilia has enjoyed one of the great meteoric rises to prominence during the 2020 Spring Carnival, and she is quite clearly the filly to beat in the Group 1 Kennedy Oaks.
VRC Kennedy Oaks – Winner
No. 1 Montefilia – Bet Now: $1.85
Yes, I have.
It is simply impossible to argue with Montefilia’s record, form and dominance this campaign, and anything close to her best looks as though it will be good enough for her to win the Kennedy Oaks.
The daughter of Kermadec made a competitive transition to black type company when fourth ion the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes in September, but truly made her presence felt when she stormed home and ran down Hungry Heart in the Group 1 Flight Stakes.
She was even better over 2000m in the Spring Champion Stakes and is at peak fitness for the Oaks.
The $1.85 available for her in Oaks betting at publish is quite short, but I can’t find anything to beat her.
As long as she doesn’t do a Yankee Rose, she should be winning.
VRC Kennedy Oaks – 2nd
No. 2 Personal – Bet Now: $6.00
A pretty clear second pick in Oaks betting in my opinion as well, in Personal.
Personal stamped herself as a filly to follow during a credible two-year-old season that was highlighted by a third placing behind Tagaloa and Hanseatic in the Neds Blue Diamond.
The Fastnet Rock filly needed the run when fifth in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes first-up this time, but has since finished second in each of the Group 2 Prelude, Group 1 Thousand Guineas and Saturday’s Wakeful Stakes.
The race has produced the last couple of Kennedy Oaks winners, and Personal is primed to run another bold race.
VRC Kennedy Oaks – 3rd
No. 7 Tyche Goddess – Bet Now: $8.50
Tyche Goddess filled the minors of the Wakeful Stakes on Saturday and looks to be at peak condition for the Oaks.
The Teofilo filly broke her maiden on debut at Bendigo in July, beating home the likes of Let’s Karaka Deel, and she has continued to improve with racing and as the bar has been raised.
She was all but forgotten in the market last weekend and got out to as much as $51, but her performance certainly suggested that she is up to the class of something like this, and I’m eager to see what she can do over 2500m
VRC Kennedy Oaks – 4th
No. 6 Miravelle – Bet Now: $4.00
Sydneysider Miravelle has returned some lovely efforts this preparation and looks up to fighting out the finish of the Kennedy Oaks.
The Redoute’s Choice filly broke her maiden at Warwick Farm in September, and she is another Oaks runner that has continued to improve as Mark Newnham has stepped her up in class.
She was fair through the line for sixth in both the Flight Stakes and the Spring Champion Stakes, and finished fourth in the Wakeful Stakes in what was her first crack at the Victorian way of going.
She has drawn a peach in barrier 6, and obviously Craig Williams during the Flemington Carnival is a big plus.
VRC Kennedy Oaks Suggested Bets
- 5 Units straight out #1 Montefilia
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections above