Well, it’s that time of year again, where the Group 1 races head from Sydney to Adelaide, and Morphettville Racecourse becomes the centre of attention. The Australasian Oaks is the opening G1 of the Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival, and this year’s 2000m feature has brought together a capacity field of 3YO fillies, ready to do battle for the $500,000 prize money up for grabs.
Looking at the market, Dabble has the progressive team-Snowden trained, My Whisper, favourite at $4.60. Last start ATC Oaks winner, El Patroness, is on the next line at $6.00, ahead of a host of fillies around the $10 mark.
If there’s one thing we know with horse racing, it’s that anything can happen, and this year’s Australasian Oaks looks like a very open contest. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2022 Australasian Oaks along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. El Patroness (8) – $6.00
Jockey – John Allen 56kg
Trainer – Danny O’Brien
*This horse has since been scratched.*
Started favourite in the G2 Autumn Classic, where she finished 3rd, before a lacklustre performance in the G2 Alister Clark Stakes at The Valley. She was then sent around a $26 chance in the G1 ATC Oaks at Randwick, and blew her rivals off the park. That win surprised many punters, including myself, but proved on her day, she’s a top class filly. Drops back to 2000m here, but is three weeks between runs, and is the lone G1 winner in the field. Respect.
🐴 Sopressa
🐴 Princess Jenni
🐴 Toffee Tongue
🐴 Media AwardWho will win the Australasian Oaks this weekend? @RacingSA pic.twitter.com/g6UbZemHMZ
— Racing.com (@Racing) April 27, 2022
2. Barb Raider (14) – $17
Jockey – Craig Williams 56kg
Trainer – Jerome Hunter
Strung two wins together after a spell, winning both the G3 Vanity and G2 Kewney Stakes, before finishing a distant 2nd to Shout the Bar in the G2 Sunline Stakes. Never went a yard on the Heavy10 surface last start at Randwick in G1 company. Will appreciate the dryer surface here, and Craig Williams sticks, but from the awkward alley, looks tested against a few of her rivals in this.
3. Daisies (17) – $10
Jockey – Mark Zahra 56kg
Trainer – Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)
Resumed with an unlucky 4th at Flemington, before a strong win in the G3 Alexandra Stakes at The Valley. Covered ground last start in the Port Adelaide Guineas, and was given a cold by a very smart Harleymoven. The 2000m looks ideal for her now, and providing she gets some luck from the gate, she will be very hard to beat back to her own sex.
4. Bon’s A Pearla (5) – $10
Jockey – Jack Hill 56kg
Trainer – Kevin Corstens
Ran a big race in the G1 Australian Guineas, before just going under in the G3 Alexandra Stakes behind Daisies. Had a gun run last start in the G3 Auraria, but was beaten by a better horse on the day in My Whisper. Hard to see her turning the tables on that filly here, but from the good gate, should get another nice run and be ultra competitive.
5. Douceur (15) – $12
Jockey – Michael Dee 56kg
Trainer – Patrick Payne
Ran on well in the G3 Alexandra Stakes, to finish 3rd behind Daisies, before finishing down the track at Caulfield last start. Ran 2nd in last year’s VRC Oaks, suggesting the 2000m will be ideal here. Has to contend with a wide gate, but should be thereabouts at the business end.
6. My Whisper (3) – $4.60F
Jockey – Jamie Kah 56kg
Trainer – Peter & Paul Snowden
Unbeaten this prep. Won a Kilmore maiden at the end of February, and has continued to improve leaps and bounds ever since. Was ultra impressive last start in the G3 Auraria Stakes, where she covered ground, and showed a brilliant turn of foot to put away some smart fillies. Has come up with a nice gate, and looks no reason she can’t take the next step, and stamp herself a G1 winner.
7. Mac ‘N’ Cheese (18) – $10
Jockey – Barend Vorster 56kg
Trainer – Tony & Calvin McEvoy
Resumed on Adelaide Cup day, and was impressive winning a 3YO handicap race. She then got back and charged home for another dominant win in Listed grade, before finishing 3rd to My Whisper last start. Started favourite on that occasion, and was far from disgraced. Gets the blinkers on here, and if she can overcome the bad draw, looks one of the main chances.
Barend Vorster takes the ride on Mac ‘N’ Cheese in Saturday’s #AustralasianOaks.
His son Brendan will be cheering him home every step of the way 🥰👨👦 pic.twitter.com/H7bHeV2jbo
— Racing SA (@RacingSA) April 27, 2022
8. Mamounia (20) – $15
Jockey – Damien Oliver 56kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Started favourite in the G2 Adrian Knox two back, where she was donkey-licked by her stablemate Honeycreeper. Made amends last start, winning the Listed Galilee Final at Caulfield. Drops back to 2000m from 2400m which isn’t ideal, and will jump from the outside gate. Will need some D Oliver magic if she is to win this.
9. Fortunate Kiss (4) – $26
Jockey – Harry Coffey 56kg
Trainer – Daniel Bowman
Won a 3YO handicap at Flemington, before finishing close up in the G3 Alexandra Stakes, and again last start at Caulfield over the mile. Untried past a mile, but is drawn to get a soft run. Hard to see her winning on recent form, but nevertheless shouldn’t be far away.
10. Glint Of Hope (2) – $10
Jockey – Daniel Moor 56kg
Trainer – Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
Resumed her prep with a dominant win at Pakenham, albeit in maiden grade, before finishing 2nd to My Whisper with 61.5kg at Sandown. Got back and ran on well at Caulfield last start, and looks ready for the 2000m now. Will need some luck from the low draw, but if she gets it she will be very hard to hold out. Can win.
11. Lady Chant (12) – $51
Jockey – Glyn Schofield 56kg
Trainer – Brock Lewthwaite
WA visitor who won the G3 WA Oaks, before making late headway in a messy G2 WATC Derby. Hard to line those form lines up, but if we’ve learnt anything in recent years, it’s that Perth form is good form. Has the addition of blinkers here, and can’t be completely ruled out.
12. Ancient Girl (1) – $61
Jockey – Ethan Brown 56kg
Trainer – Clinton McDonald
Led and ran her rivals into the ground in the Listed Morphettville Guineas, before a disappointing run in the G3 Alexandra Stakes. Finished midfield last start at Caulfield in a 3YO handicap, and off the back of that, the 2000m here looks a query. Does have the inside gate, which I’m sure will be used to her advantage, but the last furlong will be the test.
We’ve seen some great runs in the Australasian Oaks over the years! Here’s 5⃣ of the best 👇 pic.twitter.com/I1YAhfbhkv
— TAB (@tabcomau) April 27, 2022
13. Pretty Amazing (19) – $20
Jockey – Damien Thornton 56kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
*This horse has since been scratched.*
Improved through her grades rapidly, after winning a maiden at Newcastle in late January, to win the G3 Kembla Grange Classic two starts ago. Got back and never got into the race last start in the G1 Vinery Stud, on a bottomless track. Has had 4 weeks to get over that run, and will find the dry track a bonus here, but the gate makes things tricky. Will need a 10/10 ride from in-form hoop Damien Thornton.
14. So You See (10) – $14
Jockey – Jamie Mott 56kg
Trainer – Michael Moroney
Won her maiden at Pakenham in late February like an absolute star. She then ran an unlucky 4th in the G2 Kewney Stakes, where she arguably should’ve won. Her past couple of efforts have been good, without setting the world on fire, and she finds herself out to 2000m now. She gets the shades on for the first time, and should get a nice trail behind the speed. The stable is on fire of late, and if she can produce her best, she can win.
15. Stray (13) – $41
Jockey – Jake Toeroek 56kg
Trainer – Anthony Cummings
Finished 9th of 10 in the G2 Kewney Stakes three runs ago, but was held up badly in the concluding stages of the race. She was then tailed off in the G1 Vinery Stud, on a heavy track, before an improved run here at Morphettville last start. Another who gets the blinkers first time, and is capable of running a bold race if things go her way.
16. Morrissette (7) – $61
Jockey – Kayla Crowther 56kg
Trainer – Simon Ryan
Wasn’t far away in the G3 Ethereal Stakes and G1 VRC Oaks last prep, and resumed from a spell with a dominant win at Warrnambool. Didn’t have the best of luck here last start, and made good late ground behind My Whisper. 2000m suits now, has drawn a good gate, and looks a far better winning chance than the bookies price may suggest.
17e. Bundle Of Fun (6) – $19
Jockey – John Allen 56kg
Trainer – Patrick Payne
Tasmanian Oaks winner, who was good last start at Caulfield behind Son of Emperor. Gets back out to 2000m now, which looks ideal, and if she gains a start, should get a nice run from the draw. Not the worst.
Barriers now drawn for Saturday’s Australasian Oaks at Morphettville. pic.twitter.com/JqSPMr96X2
— Andrew Bensley (@AndrewBensley) April 26, 2022
18e. Roots (9) – $23
Jockey – Damien Thornton 56kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Gave Fangirl a run for her money last prep in the Listed Reginald Allen Quality. Finished off ok last start in the G3 Adrian Knox on the slop, and should appreciate the dryer track here. Has the ability to figure in the finish, if she gets a run.
19e. The Map (16) – $91
Jockey – N/A 56kg
Trainer – Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray
*This horse has since been scratched.*
Lightly raced filly who ran on well, from a long way back, in Listed grade behind Mac ‘N’ Cheese two starts ago. Got back again and followed the rail, to finish 3L behind My Whisper last start. The extended journey should suit, but it seems unlikely she’ll be running here.
20e. Blackcomb (11) – $91
Jockey – N/A 56kg
Trainer – Danny O’Brien
*This horse has since been scratched.*
Good win first up at Pakenham, albeit in maiden grade, before finishing off ok behind the in-form Harleymoven last start. Capable of running a race at odds in this, but being the fourth emergency, it seems likely she’ll be staying in her box this weekend.
Final Word
This year’s Australasian Oaks looks one of the most competitive, and high quality editions, run in recent years. Favourite, My Whisper, has continued to improve this prep. Her last start win in the G3 Auraria Stakes was very good, after covering ground, and she is a deserved favourite here. She’s drawn a nice gate, and will be given every opportunity by Jamie Kah to add a G1 to her resume.
El Patroness was a brilliant winner of the G1 ATC Oaks last start, and has to be respected again here. She won’t get a heavy track on this occasion, but that shouldn’t hinder her chances, and she is the lone G1 winner in the field.
“She certainly looks like that sort of filly, that’s going to be her right trip at this stage.”
Mike Moroney is looking forward to watching So You See run out 2000m in the G1 Australasian Oaks 🔥 pic.twitter.com/oR5ASPcjo6
— Racing.com (@Racing) April 26, 2022
As the market suggests, the winning chances don’t stop there. Bon’s A Pearla, Douceur, Mac ‘N’ Cheese, Glint of Hope and So You See all have to be greatly respected, and Morrissette looks well over the odds to my eye.
Another filly that shall not be overlooked is the Price/Kent trained Daisies, and I’ve got her on top. Although she’s drawn off the track, I feel she has the right form for this race, and will be primed to run a big race, out to the 2000m now.
She was luckless first up at Flemington under the big weight, and won well second up in the G3 Alexandra Stakes, beating a number of these fillies home. Not a lot went right last start, but if Zahra can get some cover from the gate, she should be strong late, and will take plenty of holding out.
Best Australasian Oaks Tip: 3. Daisies – Each Way ($10/$3.30)
Australasian Oaks numbers: 3-16-6-10
If you need more news, information and tips, head over to our Australasian Oaks page for all your punting needs!
*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.