Ciaron Maherâs flying filly Jameka remains top of the odds for Saturdayâs Australian Oaks 2016 after her eye-catching second behind upset winner Tavago in the ATC Derby on the opening day of Sydneyâs âThe Championshipsâ.
Australian Derby runner-up Jameka is favourite to back-up and win the 2016 Australian Oaks this Saturday at Randwick. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Crown Oaks winning daughter of Myboycharlie from last November has had three tough elite level runs against the boys this season.
She has finished in the money in two of those when third to Tarzino in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) on March 19 and then second to Kiwi raider Tavago who won last weekendâs Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) at $41 on Doncaster Mile Day.
Jameka might have been beaten over three lengths, but she was still the best past the post after the winner having overcome the wide barrier 12 of 13 draw as the sole filly in the mix for the mile and a half classic.
She could now back-up on the short seven day turnaround at the same track and distance for this Saturdayâs $1 million Group 1 James Boags Premium Australian Oaks (2400m).
Dropping back to her own kind, the bookies are taking no chances with Jameka and have her installed as the $3.50 top fancy in all-in Australian Oaks odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.
The last filly to win the Australian Oaks off an Australian Derby run was the Gai Waterhouse-trained Sunday Joy who finished 12th behind the boys before her win against a field of fellow fillies back in 2003.
The last Australian Derby placegetter to win the Oaks next-up meanwhile was Grand Archway (1999) who ran third in the lead-up run.
Occupying the second line of futures ATC Oaks odds this Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival at $4.80 is then the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Happy Hannah.
A nicely-bred but lightly-raced daughter of More Than Ready, she won two on the trot earlier this autumn before her third behind Single Gaze on March 26 in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.
Another two fillies are under $10 for Saturdayâs Oaks win with Capella and Valley Girl both at $8.
Looking to further frank the form of New Zealand-trained three-year-olds down under this season, the Dancia Guy-trained Capella ran fourth in the Group 1 NZ Derby (2400m) at home on March 5 before debuting in Australia in the Vinery Stud.
She crossed fifth in the Vinery beaten under two lengths and should only improve stepping back out over more distance on the weekend if accepted.
Valley Girl is also a Kiwi raider off very similar form, the Donna Logan & Chris Gibbs-trained daughter of Mastercraftsman having crossed fifth in the NZ Derby before her eye-catching Vinery Stud Stakes second.
Other notable Australian Oaks-bound fillies and their current odds include yet another New Zealand visitor Sofia Rosa ($10) who was second in the NZ Oaks on March 19, John Thompsonâs Crown Oaks runner-up from the spring Honesta ($13) whose last start produced a sixth in the Vinery Stud and winner of that Group 1 Single Gaze ($13) for Canberraâs Nick Olive.
The 2016 Australian Oaks final field of acceptances is out on Tuesday morning and will be published right here at Races.com.au.
In the meantime, jump on the futures odds for all of Saturdayâs Group 1 races online now at Ladbrokes.com.au enjoying $150 in bonuses when you first sign-up, deposit $50 and quote the code BETBONUS!