4/5/19 Morphettville tips: Australasian Oaks Preview

A capacity field lines up for the 2019 Schweppes Australasian Oaks over 2000m at Morphettville. 

Princess Jenni is the early favourite, currently quoted at $3.80 in fixed odds betting.

The filly by High Chaparral comes off a strong win over the Caulfield 1600m, when she sat last and flew over the top late to carry 60kg all the way to victory. 

The Team Hawkes trained Amangiri has opened up the $4.80 second-favourite. She comes into the race off the back of a luckless sixth in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plater over 2000m at Royal Randwick.

Australia's premier trainer Chris Waller has had success in this race with Egg Tart in 2017 and will be looking to claim another Group 1 with the talented Zalatte. 

 Morphettville Track Traits

Depsite some light rain forecast in the lead up to race day, expect Morphettville to be rated a Good 4 with the rail in the true position. 

Jumping from the 2000m at this track, runners only have 150m to find a position before the first turn. 

Those runners drawn in the inside barriers will be better suited, enabling them to jump and settle in their preferred positions.  

 Racing Market Movers

The smart money has come for the two favourites. 

Princess Jenni has been well backed from $4.40 into $3.80, whilst Amangiri is into $4.80 from $5.00 openers. 

 Key Runners

#1 Aristia $8.00

Group 1 VRC Oaks winner last Spring. 

Was caught wide when on the speed last start in the ATC Oaks and faded late. 

Her 2000m run in the Group One Vinery Stud prior was solid enough to suggest she's right in this. 

Look for her to go forward and race on the pace.

A sharp improvement back to a dry track over 2000m is expected.  

#3 Princess Jenni $4.40 > $3.80

Finished off well at The Valley to win the Group Three Alexandra Stakes and then proved that was no fluke with a strong come from behind win carrying 60kg at Caulfield. 

Princess Jenni charges late to defeat Sure Knee for the 3-year-old fillies at Caulfield.

Damien Oliver is a fine wine! #7Racing pic.twitter.com/ecotuqipSv

— 7HorseRacing ?? (@7horseracing) April 20, 2019

From the better draw, you'd expect Damien Oliver to take a more forward position this time around. 

The only worry is that she's yet to race over 1600m and the jury is out as to whether she can produce the same finish over a strongly run 2000m. 

#4 Mirette $12.00

Was caught wide when running fourth behind Princess Jenni at Moonee Valley.

She has since franked that form-line with a win in the Group Three Auraria over 1800m at this track.  

The filly carries an extra 2kg and faces a tougher task here stepping up to Group One grade. No thanks!

#7 Amangiri $5.00>$4.80

Was desperately unlucky in the Group Three Packer Plate over 2000m at Randwick and with even luck, she would have won. 

Her second in the Adrian Knox was impressive and from the perfect draw in barrier two, she'll be able to dominate this race from in front. 

Her two runs over 2000m are a perfect grounding for this race and at her sixth run this prep, she has the fitness edge on her rivals. Yes!

#8 Sure Knee $10.00

Ran on well last start to finish 0.1-lengths off Princess Jenni. 

The wide draw here is no help at all and she'll have plenty of work to do from the rear. 

She'll need a stack of speed up front to figure. Unlikely!

#9 Zalatte $9.00

Has promised the world and delivered an atlas this prep. 

She was caught wide with no cover in the Adrian Knox, finishing within 5.3-lengths off the winner. 

She was desperately unlucky at Caulfield last start and there have been reports that she still hasn't found clear running. 

The better draw here will allow her to race more forward and with the Chris Waller polish, you'd expect her to be right in the finish. 

Best of the rest

#2 Qafila $26.00

Has been freshened off the back of two wet-track failures and returns to a dry track for this. 

Her 0.75-length second in the Wakeful followed by a 2.2-length fifth in the VRC Oaks suggests she can fight out the finish here.

If the pace goes on and the back-markers get the speed map favours, this girl will be flying over the top late.  

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