Oakleigh Plate Runner-By-Runner Guide

The Oakleigh Plate pits some quality gallopers up against one another and we take a look at the Oakleigh Plate horses. 

Here is our runner-by-runner look at the Oakleigh Plate horses.

2021 Oakleigh Plate Horses

1. ZOUTORI $9.50
The 2020 runner-up did all the chasing behind Pippie last year and returns for another preparation. He went 15 lengths faster than standard benchmark in the Oakleigh Plate in 2020, which is better than what any horse in this race has produced in the past two years. First up in the spring he won the Bobbie Lewis (1200m) at Flemington before taking out the Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at that venue. He races well at Caulfield and will settle just behind them but the 58kg might test at the business end.

2. DIRTY WORK $10
Dirty Work was around the mark against some of the best at his last campaign in his first two starts, placing behind Gytrash and Nature Strip in the Concorde Stakes (1000m) in Sydney before running 4th to Classique Legend in the Shorts (1100m). He produced good figures in all of his runs last spring, going 13.6 lengths faster than standard when first up. He won at the track and trip following that and if he can enjoy the breaks from barrier 1 he can feature in the finish.

3. KEMPALPASA $34
The South Australian was beaten three lengths by Behemoth over in Adelaide when resuming and while he took a couple of Group races in the spring, going 14 lengths faster than standard in the Kevin Heffernan Plate (1300m) at Sandown but the 1100 might just be a tad short of his best.

4. STANDOUT $16
The Sydneysider ran 5th in the Shorts behind Classique Legend when resuming in the spring and didn’t have much luck that day. He was well beaten in the VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) and while the Handicap conditions suit, he will have his work cut out from barrier 15.

5. MIZZY $71
The outsider is likely to cross over from the wide draw and should be an improver on top of the ground but it is hard to see her finishing in the top three.

6. ANCESTRY $5
The Philip Stokes gelding is compiling an impressive record with five starts from eight wins and was unbeaten in four runs last spring. He faces his acid test but has drawn perfectly in barrier 4 and won at his only try at the track and trip back in April last year.

7. CELEBRITY QUEEN $9.50
The Perth visitor is unbeaten in three fresh runs and was unlucky not to claim the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in November last year. Comes in with a winning trial and will be ridden by Willie Pike for the Grant & Alana Williams stable. That combination had plenty of success last spring in Melbourne and with 53.5kg from barrier 3 she ticks plenty of boxes.

8. BOLD STAR $21
Bold Star just missed out behind Prophet’s Thumb in the recent Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on February 6 and drops 5.5kg off that run. He will be suited if they go hard up in front, which they normally do in an Oakleigh Plate. He was ok on a mad leaders track when 8th in this race last year but has won once in 12 attempts at the distance. Willing to risk.

9. BROOKLYN HUSTLE $16
The mare from the Jason Warren camp was a big winner when resuming over the 1000m at Moonee Valley last spring and was 4th in the Moir Stakes (1000m). She will get back and is capable of pulling out a big run fresh but hasn’t done much in her three runs at the track, while she will need the breaks from barrier 14.

10. GARNER $15
Another that drops in weight after placing in the Rubiton Stakes, the South Australian has been thereabouts in his Melbourne runs without winning. He was 6th behind Graff in the Schillaci Stakes (1100m) in the spring and a top five finish would be his best result.

11. HOW WOMANTIC $51
How Womantic won her first four starts and was 6th when resuming in the Rubiton Stakes but will start at big odds and needs to improve on that effort.

12. PROPHET’S THUMB $20
The Rubiton Stakes winner gets her shot at Group 1 level and races well at the track and trip. The Anthony Freedman-trained galloper went 12.7 lengths faster than standard in her recent win, which are the best last start figures of any runner in this race. She might have to settle a little further back this time from the wide barrier and with luck in running she can feature in the top three.

13. RIDING THE WAVE $91
One of the outsiders of the field and is better suited in easier grade.

14. SWORD OF MERCY $41
Sword Of Mercy had excuses in the Rubiton Stakes and might be worth a bit of a spec at big odds. She won well at the track and trip earlier this year and will settle in a midfield spot from barrier 6. A top five finish is within reach.

15. PORTLAND SKY $14
The first of the three-year-olds, Portland Sky might be over the odds and had all the answers when defeating Aysar and Tagloa recently with some sustained speed in the Manfred Stakes (1200m). That pair provided the exacta in the CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington last weekend. The Matt Laurie-trained galloper has done little wrong apart from a flop in Brisbane two starts ago and has drawn to get a good run from barrier 5.

16. HANSEATIC $16
The Godolphin galloper is first up after pulling up lame in a three horse field when splitting Ranting and Anders in the spring. He has reportedly come back in good order and was unlucky not to win the Blue Diamond on this day in 2020. He has drawn the carpark for this race and was the outside of nine runners when finishing 4th in the McEwan Stakes in the spring. Has the talent but will need luck.

17. RANTING $16
Won the Blue Sapphire ahead of Hanseatic in the spring before struggling at Flemington in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m). They went to war in the Blue Sapphire, which seemed to take a lot out of the three runners. No trial form and it might pay to monitor the betting.

18. ANDERS $8.50
Was 3rd in the blanket finish to the Blue Sapphire before dropping out of it in the Coolmore Stud Stakes. The Maher/Eustace galloper comes off a solid trial performance and was a big winner ahead of Ole Kirk when first up last spring before taking out the San Domenico Stakes (1100m). He is likely to push forward after drawing wide and if he can bring his early spring form he is right in this.

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