Flemington full racing preview & best bets | VRC Oaks Day 2024

Race 1: BM70 Handicap (1700m)

Considering how beneficial it has been to be up on speed throughout Cup week in the circle races, Swycho simply looks like the perfect map horse in the opening event on Oaks Day. Despite only breaking her maiden two runs back, the four-year-old mare backed it up with a dominant all-the-way victory at Gawler in Class 1 company. A repeat effort should be more than good enough to account for this BM70 field at Flemington.

• 8
  

  SWYCHO

• 7
  

  CHANGING COLOURS

• 3
  

  GREY ICE

• 4
  

  BON MISTRESS

Race 2: Listed Century Stakes (1000m)

Despite three runners being joint favourites with Bet365 at $4, Kallos gets the nod due to his straight-track record. The six-year-old gelding has three wins and a second down the Flemington straight, with three of those runs coming over the 1000m scamper. He will have the final look at the leaders and market fancies Oscar’s Fortune and Recommendation, and with a barnstorming finish, Kallos will prove hard to hold out in the 2024 Century Stakes.

• 1
  

  KALLOS

• 2
  

  OSCAR’S FORTUNE

• 3
  

  RECOMMENDATION

• 5
  

  ACROMANTULA

Race 3: BM80 Handicap (2000m)

Motorise is a natural on-pace runner, and despite only getting the job done by the barest of margins at Murray Bridge last time out, he should get conditions to suit. From barrier two, Todd Pannell should have to do no work to find the front and hold the rail, with a majority of the other pace influences drawn out wide. If the son of Denman gets it too easy out in front, he could prove to be a pain to get past yet again.

• 2
  

  MOTORACE

• 3
  

  LE ZEBRA

• 13
  

  ALMA RISE

• 14
  

  BULAWAYO

Race 4: Inglis Bracelet (1600m)

Mollynickers has been building nicely, and her run in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) suggests a win is nearby. She is a natural backmarker, but in the small field of nine, she should be close enough to the speed to fight out the finish if there has been an on-speed bias early in the program. With a bit of pace expected over the mile, the race looks perfectly setup for Mollynickers to launch her attack down the heart of the track.

• 7
  

  MOLLYNICKERS

• 4
  

  POIFECT

• 3
  

  SECOND TO NUN

• 5
  

  RUNNING BY

Race 5: BM90 Handicap (1800m)

Verdad has finished second in all four runs this campaign and has potentially done his dash with favourite punters. However, the key gear change for the son of Justify comes in the fact that James McDonald will be legged aboard, which can only be beneficial. ‘JMac’ will likely have him outside the lead throughout, and as long as Verdad doesn’t overthink it, he should prove too classy for his opposition.

• 8
  

  VERDAD

• 9
  

  MARACOURT

• 13
  

  SABAN

• 7
  

  KETTLE HILL

Race 6: Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m)

Oh Too Good was just that at Geelong first-up, settling close to the speed before exploding late on her way to the Country Final. The five-year-old mare was only nosed out by the classy Extratwo at the end of last campaign, a mark in the form guide that stands out like a sore thumb. Barrier 16 is a touch concerning, but that is why we are getting a $3.60 quote with Marantelli Bet.

• 5
  

  OH TOO GOOD

• 10
  

  WILLMOTT

• 1
  

  VALOIS

• 12
  

  TORRANZINO

Race 7: Group 3 Red Roses Stakes (1100m)

Seascape comes to the Group 3 Red Roses Stakes (1100m) following some strong performances in decent form races in Sydney and poses a strong threat to her rivals on Thursday. The I Am Invincible filly looks to gain the run of the race down the Flemington straight, where she can stalk the speedy filly Bold Bastille throughout before peeling out and finish off strongly. Michael Freedman won this race last year with Mumbai Muse and can score again with Seascape.

• 8
  

  SEASCAPE

• 10
  

  AMELITA

• 3
  

  BOLD BASTILLE

• 17
  

  SHE’S GOT PIZZAZZ

Race 8: Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m)

The 163rd running of the Group 1 VRC Oaks is the headline act at Flemington on Saturday. A field of 14 will look to etch their name into the record books and set up their career post-racing with a Group 1 classic on their breeding page. Are the favourites coming through the Wakeful Stakes the way to go? Or is there some value out a bit wider?

Click here for our full preview of the 2024 VRC Oaks

Race 9: Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1600m)

Poison Chalice has been nothing short of sensational in his two runs this campaign. After overhauling Verdad at Caulfield first-up, she finished within 1.4 lengths of Plenty Of Ammo and half a length of Royal Champion and Nugget in the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) despite a luckless run. Those horses would be close to odds-on in a race like this, and if Poison Chalice can follow a back into the race approaching the home turn, his turn of foot is more than good enough to put these away.

• 11
  

  POISON CHALICE

• 9
  

  GLOBE

• 2
  

  LIGHT INFANTRY MAN

• 7
  

  CADMUS