Last Saturday’s Adrian Knox Stakes winner Colette is holding onto favouritism in the betting for the 2020 Group 1 $500,000 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on Day Two of The Championships on Saturday.
Colette, above, is the favourite for the 2020 Australian Oaks at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Colette was elevated to the top of the betting at $3.10 with Ladbrokes.com.au for the Australian Oaks after a decisive win in the Group 3 $200,000 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Day One of The Championships.
Colette made it a hat trick of wins with her victory last Saturday from only six race starts and trainer James Cummings said that the lightly raced Hallowed Crown filly is facing a huge challenge stepping up to the 2400m at Group 1 level this week.
“There is nothing like 2,400m form for a 2,400m race – and there is none in this race, so we should be guarded,” Cummings said.
“She has a mammoth task ahead of her and we’ll just have to see if she can mount the challenge that is required.”
“There were so many things to like about her win last week.”
“One thing it showed was that she’s a stayer with a turn of foot, which is a rare commodity.
“To graduate to the Oaks in her first preparation is a feat in itself. To be among the leading chances on the biggest stage of all will be like having her step up at the Opera House.”
Colette has drawn barrier four in the fourteen horse Australian Oaks fields with Glen Boss taking over the reins from James McDonald who will ride the Chris Waller trained Nudge.
Nudge (barrier 6) is one of only four fillies under the $10 mark at $8.50 after producing a nice Australian Oaks trial with a third behind Shout The Bar and Probabeel in the Group 1 $500,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 28.
On the second line of betting at $4 is the Kiwi filly Probabeel just ahead of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Shout The Bar at $4.40.
Top New Zealand jockey Opie Bosson is back aboard Probabeel who drew barrier twelve while regular rider Adam Hyeronimus sticks with the front running Shout The Bar who will jump from gate ten.
