An unbeaten record goes on the line in Saturday’s Group 1 $750,000 Neds Oakleigh Plate (1100m) with the progressive Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Marabi tipped to win again going up in grade.
Marabi is tipped to retain her undefeated record in the 2022 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
It is shaping-up as a sensational edition of the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield on Saturday, the sprint feature on Blue Diamond Stakes Day attracting a star-studded line-up of short distance specialists.
Heading the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au is spruik mare Marabi, the five-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible looking to retain her flawless record with a sixth career victory.
Her wins so far, although in lower class, have been excellent including her emphatic last start victory in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at The Valley by nearly three lengths.
She goes up in grade but down in distance for the Oakleigh Plate jumping from barrier two with Ben Allen in the saddle again and is at $2.50 and firming to rise to the occasion.
The markets may be a one-horse affair, but Marabi still needs to tick a few boxes and handle that sharp 1100m distance after running over the six furlongs last time out, opening up potential value.
Only three of her rivals are under $10 to challenge including equal $8.50 second favourites Wild Ruler and Minhaaj drawn in barriers six and one respectively.
At his pet distance, the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Wild Ruler looks a standout danger first-up with the four-year-old son of Snitzel looking to atone for his $15 million The Everest flop in Sydney during the spring.
He failed to beat home any of his rivals when nine lengths off Nature Strip in the world’s richest turf race, but will be better here fresh over 1100m in Melbourne chasing his first victory since the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee valley last September.
Wild Ruler has an excellent strike-rate when resuming (5:3-2-0) and will be given every chance by jockey Mark Zahra having looked the goods in two lead-up trial wins over the summer.
Another runner racing first-up for the autumn with a great fresh record (4:3-0-1), the John O’Shea-trained Exceed And Excel mare Minhaaj jumps from the inside alley with Kerrin McEvoy aboard.
Before the break this consistent four-year-old enjoyed back-to-back Group 3 wins, the latest at Flemington on Derby Day over 1100m.
Rounding out the single-figure fancies is Away Game ($9), another of the three Maher/Eustace runners in the mix.
This former top-line filly remains a strong force as a four-year-old daughter of Snitzel putting together a string of top three performances in good company.
She was last seen crossing third at the Gold Coast in January’s $1 million Magic Millions Sprint (1200m), but hasn’t won a race since June last year.
The third runner for the stable is another four-year-old mare in Bella Nipotina ($14), a daughter of 2015 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Pride Of Dubai.
This classy chestnut kicks off her autumn after a wonderful, if not somewhat frustrating, spring campaign that saw her record seven top three runs on the trot.
Included in that was a Group 3 How Now Stakes (1200m) win, narrow third only a quarter-length beaten in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at this track/distance and Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) second in a photo behind Jonker at The Valley.
She was last seen running third down the iconic Flemington straight behind Nature Strip in the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) and looks every chance to run in the money again here.
Other notable Oakleigh Plate acceptors include Tony Gollan’s Manikato Stakes champ Jonker looking overs at $15 and the Peter Moody-trained Oxley Road ($12) coming off a second in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield a fortnight back.
The 2022 Oakleigh Plate is set to run as Caulfield Race 8 at 5:05pm (AEDT) as the penultimate event on the nine-race card.
