Flemington full racing tips & quaddie | VRC Oaks Day 2023

Race 1: Group 3 Ottawa Stakes (1000m)

Raceday experience is key in these early-season juvenile affairs, and Arabian Summer brings just that. The Too Darn Hot filly from the Tony & Calvin McEvoy barn chased home a seemingly smart horse when finishing 1.25 lengths back in second in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield. She put a space on the third-place runner there, suggesting she might be worth following at her next start. Harry Coffey will have Arabian Summer in a prominent position throughout, and with natural improvement, she looks hard to go past in the 2023 Ottawa Stakes.

• 3
  

  ARABIAN SUMMER

• 2
  

  CHOSEN LEGEND

• 8
  

  HARPALEE

• 7
  

  ENEEZA

Race 2: 3&4YO Fillies & Mares BM70 (1700m)

The Dan O’Sullivan-trained Matriarch Rose was rolled as an odds-on favourite last time out, but they she hit the line over 1400m at Ballarat suggests the step up to 1700m will be ideal. The Flemington straight should suit this Epaulette mare perfectly, as she can build through her gears early in the run home. In a race that should be run at a genuine clip, Matriarch Rose looks poised to finish over the top of her rivals.

• 7
  

  MATRIARCH ROSE

• 5
  

  CITY OF LIGHTS

• 3
  

  FANCIFY

• 12
  

  TACUMWAH

Race 3: Grand Handicap (2000m)

Stepping back from Group 3 company, the Hawkes team sends Foujita San to a winnable race at the Flemington 2000m. The son of Maurice was outclassed in the Coongy Cup (2000m) when chasing home some proven types, but this is much easier and he will be reunited with Damien Oliver. The four-year-old will be in the second half of the field upon settling, but with the likes of Hennessy Lad, Tommy and Tycoon Bec set to run this at a genuine clip, the race sets up perfectly for Foujita San. We’re getting a nice each-way price with horse racing bookmakers to find out if he can gun the leaders down in time.

• 4
  

  FOUJITA SAN

• 7
  

  KETTLE HILL

• 10
  

  TOMMY

• 13
  

  HOOPS

Race 4: Inglis Bracelet (1600m)

Foxy Frida is backing up five days after a below-par run in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m). She was beaten by 5.5 lengths on that day, although she was only 1.8 lengths off Life Lessons in third. Foxy Frida’s effort two runs back when finishing third behind Wishlor Lass in the Group 3 Ladies Day Vase (1600m) is more than good enough to get the job done against this field, especially as Billy Egan should gain a nice cart into the race from barrier five.

• 1
  

  FOXY FRIDA

• 6
  

  CLIMBING STAR

• 4
  

  MATRON BULLWINKEL

• 7
  

  OUR EMPRESS ZOE

Race 5: Listed Century Stakes (1000m)

Spacewalk needs a bunny to chase in his races, and he got that on Derby Day when hunting down Najem Suhail and holding off the fast-finishing Crosshaven. Stepping back to the 1000m is no issue, as the likes of Najem Suhail, Indian Pacific and Cannonball are tipped to set a chaotic pace. Spacewalk can absorb that pressure and should prove too hard to hold out as he continues his impressive spring campaign.

• 1
  

  SPACEWALK

• 3
  

  ATHELRIC

• 2
  

  CANNONBALL

• 6
  

  GENERATION

Race 6: MCC Final (1600m)

In what is traditionally a dartboard job, we have landed on Belthil following three nice runs to begin his spring campaign. He comes to Flemington fourth-up and looks like he will appreciate every bit of the 1600m on his first go at the trip. Barrier 17 is offset by his want to be back in the field, and if Harry Coffey can land in the three-wide line with cover, Belthil – who is rock-hard fit and boasts one of the best finishing bursts in the race – can inject some nice value into the Oaks Day quaddie.

• 5
  

  BELTHIL

• 8
  

  POISON CHALICE

• 9
  

  HELIX

• 2
  

  EUPHORIC

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

It was a hard watch for those on Appin Girl on her Melbourne debut at Caulfield, as she was horribly held up for a run in the home straight. The Flemington straight looks like it will suit the Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted-trained filly perfectly, and she should have no issue finding clear air when it matters. With early speed drawn either side of this daughter of Capitalist, Mark Zahra should be able to gain a perfect track into the race. Put that first run down as a paid barrier trial, because if Appin Girl is anywhere near what she showed during the Queensland winter, she is more than capable of saluting in the Group 3 Red Roses Stakes.

• 5
  

  APPIN GIRL

• 4
  

  MUMBAI MUSE

• 3
  

  SALTAIRE

• 14
  

  AVIATRESS

Race 8: Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500M)

A field of 14 three-year-old fillies will line up in the 162nd running of the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m). Zardozi heads the market at +200, with jockey James McDonald looking to complete the VRC Derby and Oaks double in the same week. Group 1 winner Tropical Squall (+300) holds the second line of betting, while Aethelflaed (+750) and Basilinna (+850) are the only other runners under a double-figure quote.

Click here for our full runner-by-runner preview of the 2023 Group 1 VRC Oaks

Race 9: BM90 Handicap (1800m)

Based on his two Australian starts to date, Gregolimo should just be winning in the last. The Mike Moroney-trained gelding is a deserving +130 favourite having chased home the in-form Muramasa at Caulfield on October 18. He steps back from 2000m after running third in the Group 3 Coongy Cup, where he was beaten by under a length. He hit the line with great intent over 1630m at Flemington on September 24, and with a similar effort, he should be putting this race away within a couple of strides.

• 4
  

  GREGOLIMO

• 8
  

  HOLYMANZ

• 13
  

  SEB SONG

• 12
  

  GLENTANEOUS