The Punter’s Prince goes through the exclusive BetDeluxe runner-by-runner guide of the 2021 VRC Oaks from Flemington.
Will a filly sporting the blinkers be the one to back?
#1 Elusive Express
Anthony & Sam Freedman
The favourite and on-top selection who is going to be super hard to hold out.
Her run in the Thousand Guineas from the rear half of the field was enormous and the rise to 2500 metres is going to suit her perfectly given she is bred by staying sire Jakkalberry.
Any give in the ground is ideal for her with two starts on soft going for two wins.
Additionally, this looks like it will be a fairly leisurely run Oaks and it will suit her really nice turn of foot.
The only knock on her is she looks just a little bit short from an odds perspective at around the $3.9-$4 quote.
Odds: $3.9 the win and $1.35 the place.
Finishing position: First
#2 Willowy
James Cummings
Charged through the line to score a smart win the Wakeful Stakes last Saturday.
Damien Oliver now takes the ride and that will only enhance her chances.
The way she hit the finish post last start was a great indicator she will be able to run beyond 2000 metres with great aplomb.
The only knock is that this is her first preparation and it all might come a little too soon for her.
Odds: $4.2 the win and $1.55 the place.
Finishing position: Fourth
#3 Daisies
Mick price & Michael kent jnr.
Looked all over the winner of the Wakeful Stakes but was run down by Willowy in the last 50 metres.
She will definitely appreciate the cut out of the ground, but she did start much longer than Elusive Express when they went head to head in the Chester Manifold a month ago.
Top three chance with James McDonald retaining the ride, but prefer to risk her at the current odds from a winning perspective.
Odds: $3.2 the win and $1.3 the place.
Finishing position: Third
#4 biscayne bay
ciaron maher & dave eustace
Had to contend with stepping up from 1400 metres to 2000 metres last start in the Ethereal and did a great job to finish third.
It was what she did in the last 100 metres and after the post that really caught the eye.
She will derive a huge fitness benefit from that run and the blinkers are applied for the first time as she goes into her grand final race.
Expecting a big career peak performance and she is the each-way play in the race.
Odds: $6 the win and $2.15 the place.
Finishing position: Second
#5 gonnadancealot
robbie Griffiths & mathew de kock
She will need to find a bigger form reversal than anything in this field.
If she does not run last it will be a tick.
Odds: $81 the win and $17 the place.
Finishing position: Last
#6 douceur
patrick payne
Keeps stepping up to the mark and improving every time she races.
The more the rain the better for her.
Genuine top five chance on what she did in the Wakeful Stakes last weekend.
Odds: $17 the win and $4.2 the place
Finishing position: Fifth
#7 glint of hope
trent busuttin & natalie young
Her slow starts are costing her dearly.
Yet to win a race in her career and it’s tough to see that changing here and she comes up very short odds.
Odds: $8 the win and $2.45 the place
Finishing position: Seventh
#8 tiz my bay
robbie griffiths & mathew de kock
Another maiden runner who faces her toughest test to date.
Better barrier and getting up to 2500 metres might help her chances, but she can win without us.
Does not possess the brilliance or staying ability to win a Group 1 classic.
Odds: $20 the win and $4.8 the place.
Finishing position: Ninth
#9 Blackcomb
danny o'brien
If she wins, we will be losing.
Tough to see her elevating the extra nine to ten lengths she needs in order to be competitive let alone win this race.
Odds: $21 the win and $5 the place.
Finishing position: Eighth
#10 Fabiola
ken & kasey keys
Winning a country maiden and then stepping up to Group 1 level is not exactly a recipe for success.
Absolute boil over if she can run a place.
Odds: $101 the win and $21 the place.
Finishing position: Tenth
#11 Morrisette
Simon Ryan
Possibly the pick of the roughies who can sneak into a top five spot.
Wide barrier is much better suited for her than being strung up on the inside of runners.
This has been the race she has been aimed at since the start of her campaign.
Odds: $18 the win and $4.4 the place.
Finishing position: Sixth
