G1 Kennedy Oaks, $1,000,000, 2500m
Star filly Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}) looks well-poised to capture her third Group 1 of the spring as she goes out as odds-on favourite in the G1 VRC Oaks. An upset winner of the G1 Flight S. at Randwick, the David Payne-trained filly backed-up to win the G1 Spring Champion S. a week later and confirm her status as a 3-year-old of the highest quality.
She steps out beyond 2000 metres for the first time, but is expected to relish the extra distance, with jockey Hugh Bowman looking for his third win in the race.
Montefilia
Her chief rival is expected to be the ever-consistent Personal (Fastnet Rock), who has been second her past three starts, including the G1 Thousand Guineas, and then the G2 Wakeful S. this past Saturday. The Lindsay Park-trained filly was beaten narrowly by Victoria Quay (Dundeel {NZ}) on that occasion, but that filly does not back up in this race. Damien Oliver is on board Personal, hoping to take his tally of Oaks wins to six.
Miravalle (Redoute's Choice) was the flashing-light run from the Wakeful S. surging home into fourth, a performance that screamed out that the 2500 metres would very much suit the Mark Newnham-trained filly. Craig Williams, looking for a third win in the race, sticks with her.
Tyche Goddess (Teofilo {Ire}), trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, surprised a few with her run in the Wakeful, where she sat on pace and challenged for the lead at one stage before finishing third. That run would have brought her on significantly for this Group 1 task.
Mike Moroney has won this race before and saddles up two fillies who looks well-suited to the extended trip in Star Of Eden (Wandjina), last seen when third in the G3 Ethereal S. at Caulfield, and Yatton (NZ) (Savabeel), while last year's winning trainer Danny O'Brien presents two runners, Salto Angel (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) and Vilanculos (Crowded House {GB}), both of whom should relish the 2500 metres.
G3 Darley Ottawa S., $200,000, 1000m
A host of in-form juvenile fillies look to get some valuable black type in another strong renewal of a race which has produced plenty of quality winners in recent years.
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have become one of the most successful 2-year-old trainers in recent seasons and take a trio of runners into this race, including the favourite, Fake Love (I Am Invincible). She impressed with a superior display of speed in the Listed Debutante S. on debut last month and off that performance, could prove hard to catch here.
Fake Love
Stablemates Lovin' Feelin' (Exceed And Excel) and Nice For What (Shalaa {Ire}) make their debuts having both shown speed in recent jumpouts.
The Robbie Griffiths and Mathew De Kock-trained Tempest Charm (Trust In A Gust) was good on debut when third in the R. Listed Inglis Banner at The Valley last time out and should come through that run stronger. One of her rivals here, Mortal Witness (Star Turn), was just behind her in that run.
James Cummings presents two fillies, Cloudy (Frosted {USA}), who was third behind stablemate Ingratiating (Frosted {USA}) on debut at this track last month, and Naples (Street Boss {USA}), who surged home well when third behind Fake Love at Caulfield. Both of the Godolphin fillies can take major improvement from those performances.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Butter Blonde (Choisir) and the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-prepared Desired (Rich Enuff) come off wins at Bendigo and Murray Bridge respectively.
G3 Network 10 Red Roses S., $200,000, 1100m
Written Beauty (Written Tycoon) romped in at Moonee Valley last time out and steps up to black-type company for the first time in what shapes as a test of her credentials.
The Team Hawkes-trained filly was able to sit and swoop on her rivals at her recent victory but must contend with the Flemington straight for the first time under race conditions.
Minhaaj (Exceed And Excel), trained by Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes, has that experience in spades, having performed well in three runs at Flemington, including a Group 3 win over 1200 metres back in March. She has been twice placed behind G1 Coolmore Stud S.-winning filly September Run (Exceed And Excel) this campaign.
Minhaaj
The Kris Lees-prepared Chianti (I Am Invincible) tackles Melbourne racing for the first time and looks a filly of promise, while Amuri (Zoustar) comes across from Adelaide, where she won last start for the McEvoys.
Another Lindsay Park filly, Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai), has been consistent in stakes racing throughout the spring, having been placed in the G3 Thoroughbred Club S. and G3 Red Anchor S. at her past two starts.
Listed GH Mumm Century S., $175,000, 1000m
Phillip Stokes' Ancestry (The Brothers War {USA}) has been pretty much perfect through his campaign to date, winning comfortably off the front at Caulfield, Cranbourne and Moonee Valley and gets to test his form and speed out down the Flemington straight, where he failed at his only previous run.
Fiesta (I Am Invincible) has also been in brilliant form for Chris Waller and finished all over her rivals in the G3 Begonia Belle S. last Saturday, and is well in the running to make it two wins for the week.
Fiesta (white cap)
Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou bring speedy mare Villami (Foxwedge) to Melbourne and she is certain to make her presence felt on the pace, while Godolphin mare Varda (Lonhro) reeled off an unbeaten run of four wins through the winter in Sydney, albeit all on rain-affected tracks.
She was fourth over 1000 metres in Cup week last year, with that race won by another contender here in the Gordon Richards-trained Garner (Barbados), who drops back in class and loves the Flemington straight.
