The Melbourne Cup Carnival reaches its penultimate program on Thursday, and nine races will be run and won on 2021 Kennedy Oaks Day.
Talented fields will assemble for every race and there’s value to be found throughout the entire card.
You can find my full day preview and 2021 Kennedy Oaks Day Tips below.
Preview brought to you by Neds. Learn more about Neds HERE.
Race 1: 12:40pm – TCL TV Stakes, (1700m)
Tip: No. 3 Ruru
There are a few winning chances engaged in the first on Kennedy Oaks Day, including Ruru.
Ruru returned some lovely efforts in the latter half of her three-year-old campaign, and ended her prep with a credible performance for eighth in the Queensland Oaks.
I thought that there was a lot to like about her resuming effort for fourth, beaten less than a length at Doomben, and she will relish getting further out in trip on Thursday.
Race 2: 1:15pm – Inglis Bracelet, (1600m)
Tip: No. 1 Sirileo Miss
Sirileo Miss has recorded three wins from as many starts back from a spell, and she shapes as the runner to beat again in the Inglis Bracelet.
The Pride Of Dubai mare jogged home to win in BM70 company at Sandown when resuming and hasn’t looked back, winning each of her two subsequent starts, including the Group 3 Ladies Day Vase on Thousand Guineas Day.
She strikes this race in peak order and I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish.
Race 3: 1:55pm – Group 3 Ottawa Stakes, (1000m)
Tip: No. 1 Kiki Express
Kiki Express won the Listed Debutant Stakes on debut in October and can make it two in a row when she contests the Ottawa Stakes on Oaks Day.
The Sepoy filly settled off the pace at Caulfield on debut and mustered an eye-catching turn of foot to nail the promising Brereton on the line.
She’ll only improve for that experience and on exposed form, she is the one to beat again.
Race 4: 2:35pm – Twitter Trophy, (1800m)
Tip: No. 5 Djukon
This shapes as one of the more open races on 2021 Oaks Day and at publish, we’re faced with $6 the field.
It looks a great opportunity to unearth some value, and I think that it might lie with Djukon.
Djukon doesn’t win out of turn, but he also rarely races poorly, and he has been consistent in some decent races this time in.
He steps out on Thursday fourth-up, he should relish racing on the big Flemington track and the booking of James McDonald certainly doesn’t hurt.
Race 5: 3:15pm – Listed Desirable Stakes, (1400m)
Tip: No. 16 Espiona
It’s a step up in class and she has only made one appearance at the races so far, but Espiona did enough on debut to suggest she’ll enjoy a glittering career, and I am going to stick with her on Kennedy Oaks Day.
The Extreme Choice filly looked very good at the trials prior to her debut, and she put the writing on the wall with a dominant win at Warwick Farm last month.
She’s another who should only improve for that experience and another leading chance for James McDonald in Cup Week.
Race 6: 3:50pm – Listed G.H. Mumm Century Stakes, (1000m)
Tip: No. 3 Prezado
Prezado loves racing down the straight at Flemington and he is up to winning the Century Stakes on Thursday, at a price ($26 at publish).
The Denman gelding needed his first run back when seventh, beaten two and a half lengths by Masked Crusader in The Heath 1100 at Caulfield and has been freshened since finishing fifth in an 1100m Handicap.
He strikes his pet conditions on Oaks Day and we can have a genuine each-way play at the price.
Race 7: 4:30pm – Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final, (1600m)
Tip: No. 2 Riot And Rose
Riot And Rose puts an unbeaten record on the line in the Country Final on Oaks Day, and it looks the perfect target for him.
The Pins gelding won each of his three starts during his debut preparation and returned for a smart win at Horsham last month.
He’s going to need luck in running after drawing wide but if he does get it, I think he’ll be winning again.
Race 8: 5:10pm – Group 1 Kennedy Oaks, (2500m)
Tip: No. 2 Willowy
Eleven three-year-old fillies will contest the 2021 Kennedy Oaks.
I’ve put Willowy on top, but be sure to check out my full race preview and 2021 Kennedy Oaks Tips RIGHT HERE.
Race 9: 5:50pm – Group 3 Red Roses, (1100m)
Tip: No. 13 Morioka
The Red Roses always draws a strong field of fillies and this year is no exception; it’s $6 the field at publish.
She is yet to break her maiden, but she has also only missed placing twice in eight starts, and Morioka looks to be an each-way chance at a big price.
The Maurice filly finished down the order in a couple of Group 2 contests two and three starts back, but she was far more effective dropping back in class at Caulfield last time.
Craig Williams rides and we can have a small each-way play at the price.