Race favourite Kenedna will be chasing a Morphettville hat trick when she lines up in the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Oaks (registered as Australasian Oaks) (2000m) on Saturday.
Kenedna, above, is the early favourite for the Schweppes Oaks at Morphettville. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Darren Weir trained Kenedna has won her last two Schweppes Oaks lead up runs at Morphettville in Adelaide in the Listed $110,000 See South Australia Laelia Stakes (1600m) on April 8 and in the Group 3 $120,000 Schweppervescence Stakes (Registered as Auraria Stakes) (1800m) a fortnight later.
Weir’s only question mark in what appears to be a perfect Schweppes Oaks preparation is the fact that Kenedna will have to make her third float trip in a month from her Ballarat stables to Adelaide.
“She has had a great preparation, but obviously the little thing in the back of our mind is it is going to be her third trip to Adelaide. A bit of a float trip,” Weir told racing.com
“All the signs at home are good. She has done well, had a good fortnight, has drawn a good gate and the step up to 2000m looks ideal.”
Kenedna had to overcome an awkward barrier draw before winning the Auraria Stakes and is hoping she will get a sweeter run from a better drew at gate three.
“Her previously two starts she has been drawn a bit tricky and we have had to go back on her and we have had a lot of luck and Johnny has produced a couple of real good rides,” Weir said.
“But hopefully from the good draw she can just be in the first half and get a chance to run well.”
Irish rider John Allen has been aboard Kenedna for her last two wins at Morphettville and he agrees with Weir and can see the Not A Single Doubt filly saving plenty of ground midfield from the good barrier.
“He probably won’t be any more forward than midfield. She is a get back horse and from that gate we won’t have to be getting right back and settle somewhere around midfield and with the right run she should be there with a big show,” Allen said.
“She has been super down there her last two starts. She has drawn a good gate Saturday.”
“It is probably a better race again, Chris Waller’s horse and there a few Victorians coming over.”
“Hopefully she can win.”
Kenedna sits at the top of the Schweppes Oaks market order at $3.10 at Ladbrokes.com.au just ahead of the Chris Waller trained Egg Tart at $4.40 and Danny O’Brien’s Toffee Nose at $8.
Egg Tart is also racing in fine form with wins from her last four starts but is stepping up sharply in class and distance after winning a 1600m three year old Handicap at Flemington on April 25.
