The Melbourne Cup Carnival continues on Thursday and an open edition of the Group 1 Kennedy Oaks headlines the program.
Eleven three-year-old fillies will step out in the staying test, and there are several key winning chances engaged in the Kennedy Oaks field.
You can find my complete 2021 Kennedy Oaks Tips below.
Kennedy Oaks – Winner – No. 2 Willowy
Willowy wasn’t near the top line of Kennedy Oaks betting prior to Derby Day, but her performance and win in the Wakeful Stakes suggested she’d take a power of beating on Thursday, and I am keen to stick with her.
The Kermadec filly showed promise without setting the racing world on fire during her first few career starts, but did break her maiden in style at Newcastle earlier in October.
She has improved noticeably as she has gotten further out in trip, and I am eager to see what she can do over 2500m in the Kennedy Oaks.
Kennedy Oaks – 2nd – No. 1 Elusive Express
Elusive Express hasn’t returned a poor effort since debuting, and it wouldn’t shock to see her run into the Kennedy Oaks winner’s stall.
The Jakkalberry fill has recorded two wins and three minor placing from her first career starts so far, and she charged in to win the Group 2 Edward Manifold before finishing a length second in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas last time.
She is rock-hard fit and breeding suggests that she will only improve getting out to 2500m in the Kennedy Oaks.
Kennedy Oaks – 3rd – No. 9 Blackcomb
Danny O’Brien set Blackcomb for this race back in August, and she adds some real value to our Kennedy Oaks trifecta at around the $16 mark.
Blackcomb has returned several pleasing efforts and recorded some good results throughout her spring campaign and finished second in the Oaks Trial here in September; her only other appearance at HQ so far.
She is another filly who takes her place in the Kennedy Oaks field at peak fitness and Danny O’Brien wouldn’t have accepted if he didn’t think that she was a winning chance.
Kennedy Oaks – 4th – No. 3 Daisies
Daises looks well placed for another competitive effort in the Kennedy Oaks 2021.
The Sebring filly stripped fitter with a couple of fair efforts when debuting in September, and she broke her maiden with an impressive performance in the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield a couple of weeks ago.
She followed up that performance with another quality effort for second, beaten half a length by Willowy in the Wakeful on Saturday, and a repeat of that run will see her into the finish again.
Kennedy Oaks Suggested Bets
- 4 Units straight out #2 Willowy
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below
