2015 Australian Oaks Tips & Selections

The first of four Group 1s headlining the Sydney racing action for Day 2 of The Championships at Randwick Racecourse this weekend is the Australian Oaks 2015, betting tips for the fillies’ feature found right here.

Monday’s Adrian Knox Stakes winning filly Candelara is a top three chance on the short back-up into Saturday’s 2015 Australian Oaks at Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart.

There are 13 three-year-olds in the mix for the $1 million Group 1 Seven News Australian Oaks (2400m) this Saturday, the Ladbrokes.com.au favourite of which is the Chris Waller-trained Winx at a firming $4.20.

The Street Cry filly won the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) when up against the boys on March 14 and then jumped at the same $4.20 price in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) last time out, a race that has produced three of the past five Australian Oaks winners.

She was beaten by two lengths when fifth to Fenway that day however and is out for atonement here when jumping from the inside alley, which last produced an Australian Oaks winner back in 2003 with Sunday Joy, with Joao Moreira in the saddle.

The bookies are tipping the likes of Vinery Stud Stakes winner Fenway ($6), third in the same lead-up race Thunder Lady ($6.50), Waller’s other runner Ballet Suite ($7) and the visiting Kiwi filly Savaria ($7.50) as the main dangers.

With a host of top chances should you stick to the order of the Australian Oaks odds or go for a longer priced hope such as Adrian Knox Stakes winner Candelara ($11) or even the Bart & James Cummings-trained Hussonet filly Zarzali ($19) for the win?

1^st

#4 Savaria ($7.50)

This Kiwi raider is the genuine market mover backed in from $9 to $7.50 to win her second Oaks on the trot. The Roydon Bergerson-trained daughter of Savabeel comes off back-to-back wins back home in New Zealand, the latest of which was a strong three-quarter length victory in the Group 1 NZ Oaks (2400m) over this distance on March 14. She has a wide barrier 12 draw to overcome in her Australian debut, which hasn’t produced an ATC Oaks winner since Rose Archway (2001), but there’s the metres to overcome. New Zealand’s Rising Romance (2014) won last year with James McDonald aboard and he shoots for a second straight win on another Kiwi this year. She boasts a 50% win rate and the top 83% place rate, and handles a Soft track so plenty to like at the price.

2^nd

#10 Ballet Suite ($7)

While the shorter priced of Waller’s two Oaks fillies is Winx, we think the value lies in stablemate Ballet Suite who is a solid chance despite her wide barrier 13 draw. This daughter of High Chaparral won back-to-back at Randwick giving her a perfect record at the track in non-black type company earlier this autumn before a close last start fourth when thrown in the deep end in the Vinery Stud Stakes. She’ll take improvement out of that and looks set to appreciate the extra 400m as well.

3^rd

#5 Candelara ($11)

Bjorn Baker’s Real Saga filly earned her shot at the Oaks title with a Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) victory at Randwick on Easter Monday. She’s on the short turnaround then but the Adrian Knox – Australian Oaks double was achieved by Royal Descent (2013) in the wet two years ago and it looks similar conditions for Candelara’s attempt at the same from a gun barrier two draw with Hugh Bowman, who most recently rode Streama (2012) to her ATC Oaks win a few years ago, retaining the ride.

Get behind our Australian Oaks 2015 tips online now at Ladbrokes.com.au for the guaranteed best price plus access to their Best Tote or SP + 20% markets on it and the other three Group 1 Randwick races on Saturday!