Oakleigh Plate 2024 preview & betting strategy | February 24

Sparks are set to fly in Saturday’s Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield Racecourse. A massive field of 15 sprinters are set to clash over the 1100m, and with just one previous Group 1 winner in the field, there is plenty on the line in the co-feature on Blue Diamond Stakes Day. Can the three-year-old colt King’s Gambit overcome barrier one and salute with just 50kg on his back, or will one of the smart up-and-coming four-year-olds get the job done?

2024 Oakleigh Plate odds

Outside of the top two in the market — King’s Gambit (+320) and Asfoora (+450) — there looks to be plenty of meat on the bone in terms of value with horse racing bookies for the 2024 Oakleigh Plate. Sghirippa, Rey Magnerio, Benedetta, Hypothetical, Kallos, Queman and Recommendation are all between a +800 and +1500 quote for Saturday’s Group 1 sprint, showing just how even the Oakleigh Plate field is outside of the two at the top of betting.

2024 Oakleigh Plate speed map

Buckle up, ladies and gentlemen — this is going run at a frantic speed. Najem Suhail and Hypothetical will look to cross from middle barriers and take up the running, while the likes of Brudenell, Recommendation and Queman will all look to kick up underneath them and hold the rail. Add in the fact that the likes of Asfoora and Sghirippa from wide draws will want to land in the first four or five, and we’re met with a logjam trying to hold a spot upon settling. It leaves the race perfectly setup for the likes of Benedetta, Skew Wiff and King’s Gambit to all take a sit just off the pace, while Kallos and Rey Magnerio will be launching late from a rearward position.

Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2024 Oakleigh Plate.

Oakleigh Plate 2024 preview & form

We will be looking to strike some value with Benedetta as she comes to the Oakleigh Plate first-up from a spell. Jason Warren’s mare hasn’t been seen since finishing fourth in the Silver Eagle (1300m) at Randwick on October 14, but her run the start prior when beaten a half-head by Star Patrol and King Of Sparta in Group 2 company at Flemington reads perfectly. Any rain that comes will not deter her winning chances, having won both of her starts on Soft going in her career. Daniel Stackhouse will have the mare settled just off the speed, and armed with a strong sprint, Benedetta can blouse the leaders at a nice price.

Sghirippa is the form sprinter of the Victorian summer and gets his chance at Group 1 glory on Saturday. The Shane & Cassie Oxlade-trained sprinter has been nothing short of dominant in his last two starts, winning in Listed company and at Group 3 level. Craig Newitt will need to be at his best to get the son of Lonhro across to the front of the field without using up too many tickets, but if he can land either outside the lead or a pair back with cover, Sghirippa brings race fitness and quality form into the time-honoured sprint.

Kallos could not have been any better when toppling Asfoora in the Group 1 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at this track and trip on his return. Despite being given 58kg — some 8kg more than the race favourite — he showed in the Rubiton he can handle the weight and sprint quickly. Blake Shinn will have him smoking the pipe out the back while the speed is on early. With a well-timed sprint and a bit of class on his side, Kallos is the one from the rear of the field who will most likely prove hardest to hold out.

King’s Gambit drawing barrier one is hardly ideal considering he will need a stack of luck. However, if the gaps come, he is sure to take some beating. Asfoora was quite plain on return, and with 57.5kg and barrier 11, she looks to have the odds stacked against her. Outside of those mentioned, a case can be made for all but maybe one or two of the contenders in the Oakleigh Plate.

Oakleigh Plate 2024 selections & best bets

• 8
  

  BENEDETTA

• 4
  

  SGHIRRIPA

• 1
  

  KALLOS

• 15
  

  KING’S GAMBIT

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