Oakleigh Plate Tips & Preview 2024
Looking for Oakleigh Plate tips and best bets? We dissect times and form to find the winner of the 2024 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield.
OAKLEIGH PLATE BETTING SNAPSHOT
The sprinters do battle in the last of the three Group 1 races at Caulfield on Saturday and it is the three-year-old, Kings Gambit, that is the $4.40 favourite in early markets with PlayUp, while Asfoora is at $9. The Adelaide galloper, Sghirripa is at $9, while Benedetta and Rey Magnerio are the others under the double figures at $9.50.
A field of 15 will assemble for the $750,000 Group 1 and Hypothetical is at $12, while Asfoora’s last start conqueror, Kallos, is at $14. Recommendation ($15), Queman ($16) and Najeem Suhail ($19) head the rest.
OAKLEIGH PLATE FORM ANALYSIS
Four runners had their most recent start in the Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on February 10 and it was Kallos that stormed home to upset the highly fancied Asfoora. The Godolpohin galloper was first up and produced the fastest last 400m and 200m to go 12.2 lengths faster than standard benchmark.
Slight discrepancy in the market between those two for mine with Kallos 1kg better at the weights. Both draw double digit barriers. Hypothetical (4th) and Mornington Glory (5th) are the other two. Hypothetical led before just fading late. She comes into this second up and drops 4kg.
The Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained galloper boasts the best figures that any horse in this race has produced in the past two years, going 15.3 lengths faster than standard when winning at the track and trip at Group 2 level last spring. Mornington Glory was posted wide throughout in the Rubiton Stakes but stuck on well and drops 5kg.
Best last start benchmark figures belong to Sghirripa, who went 13.8 lengths faster than standard when claiming the Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on January 13. He was a Caulfield 1100m winner two starts ago and has gone 10 lengths faster than standard or more at his past four runs.
Kings Gambit is race favourite and is the sole three-year-old. He has finished top three in all six of his career starts, winning twice. The Peter & Paul Snowden-trained galloper might have to produce a personal best but should have scope to do so with just 50kg on his back. He was far too good for the likes of Mexico and Ozzmosis in the Roman Consul (1200m) at Rosehill last October. Ozzmosis then came out and snared the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) in dazzling fashion at Flemington.
Benedetta is an interesting contender. The Jason Warren mare is one of four gallopers that are first up and She won when fresh last spring and then scored over the 1200m at Caulfield before going 14 lengths faster than standard benchmark at Flemington when 3rd behind Star Patrol.
Rey Magnerio has won six of nine, including four of his past five. He went 10 lengths faster than standard when scoring ahead of Midtown Boss at the track and trip on February 2
It is a typically open Oakleigh Plate. Recommendation led at Moonee Valley in the Australia Stakes (1200m) at his most recent start before going down late behind Veight. He is one of a number that might like to roll forward. Speed should also come from Hypothetical, Name Suhail and Brudenell.
Horses such as Kallos and Benedetta should get their chance. That duo might settle back. It will be interesting to see where Kings Gambit ends up in the run from barrier 1.
OAKLEIGH PLATE TIPS AND BEST BETS
Kallos looked after us a couple of weeks ago at a nice price and it is hard not to remain loyal but we are looking elsewhere. Not sold on Kings Gambit and the three-year-old form. Willing to go for some value and Hypothetical can be an improver after running 4th in the Rubiton Stakes last time. She may need another run or so to show her best but we can trust the stable and she was brilliant at the track and trip with the fitness under her belt back in November. Sghirripa was an unlucky 3rd in that race but does need to make up almost three lengths. r 1. Luke Currie rides and had success with the stable in this race on Artorius two years ago.