Form expert Daniel O’Sullivan has Jameka on top of his 2015 Crown Oaks tips, but he believes it is Honesta and Dulverton that represent the value in the Group 1 event at Flemington this afternoon.
Honesta has the chance to record a maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2015 Crown Oaks at Flemington this afternoon. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Honesta started her campaign way back in July with a fourth place finish at the Sunshine Coast, but she stamped herself as a horse to follow with two wins in Brisbane before she finished second in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on September 19, second in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at the same venue on October 3 and second in the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 17.
O’Sullivan told RSN that he was impressed with the way that Honesta toughed it out to the line in the Ethereal Stakes and he believes that the Monaco Consul filly represents great value at her current Crown Oaks odds.
“Honesta is a horse that interests me,” O’Sullivan said.
“I thought that he run behind Dawnie Perfect in the Ethereal was really good – that was a fast run race and she sat handy to the pace.
“She sat a couple of lengths ahead of Ambience who looked to stake her claim in the straight and Honesta was pulling away again from Ambience on the line.
“There was good merit in the run and it was a solid overall rating that is up to this race.
“This is not a strong Oaks and I don’t think there are any stars on the way through here.
“Honesta is a long way into her prep and that has to be some query, I really just like the way that she stuck on there over the final stages and was pulling away from Ambience again.
“Crossing over here with a softer run on the pace, she is probably around the genuine chances and I have her as an $8 chance when she is $14 in the market.”
The other horse that O’Sullivan believes represents good value in current Crown Oaks betting markets is Dulverton, who finished a gallant fifth behind Extra Choice in the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) on October 21.
O’Sullivan is confident that Dulverton is a stayer with some upside and he feels that she will have no trouble handling a wet track at Flemington this afternoon.
“The longshot that I am really interested in is Dulverton,” O’Sullivan said.
“Coming out the Geelong Derby Trial she got quite a way back there in the race won by Extra Choice and it was a high pressure staying race.
“She really worked home quite strongly and I was really impressed with the way that she travelled into the race from the 800.
“The rider Chris Parnham just took a few wrong options looking for a run and she got held-up and had to check across heels, but right on the line she was quite strong again.
“Being different form I really respect her chances here.”
Jameka is currently available at 2015 Crown Oaks odds of $3.70 with Ladbrokes and she is a narrow favourite from Ambience ($4), Sacred Eye ($4.20) and Pasadena Girl ($7).
