The flying Andrew Noblet-trained Silent Sedition is early favourite in a capacity Schweppes Oaks 2016 field for Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide on Saturday.
Silent Sedition (outside) is early favourite to win the 2016 Schweppes Oaks in Adelaide this Saturday. Photo: Jenny Barnes.
One of two elite level Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival features on the Robert Sangster Stakes Day card this weekend, the s$400,000 Group 1 Schweppes Australasian Oaks (2000m) has attracted the full 16 starters plus four emergencies.
Early favourite in the Schweppes Oaks betting odds at Ladbrokes.com.au for this season’s edition of the three-year-old fillies’ classic is Melbourne visitor Silent Sedition ($5) drawn in barrier seven.
She could come into five if the emergencies fail to gain a start and has Craig Williams aboard chasing his second win in the race following his success aboard Grand Echezeaux (2000) 16 years ago.
Silent Sedition has won three of her past four starts including her Morphettville debut last time out on April 23 when she and Williams took out the Group 3 Auraria Stakes (1800m) by a quarter length.
That race has produced three of the past four Australasian Oaks winners, while the last favourite in the Group 1 to salute for the punters was May’s Dream (2014).
The other best out of the Auraria Stakes backing up in this weekend’s elite level are the Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas-trained runner-up C’est Beau La Vie (13) and the Phillip Stokes-trained third placed Comprende (15).
Locally trained, Bernardini filly C’est Beau La Vie won two on the trot in Adelaide including the Listed Laelia Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville as a 20/1 outsider before her close second last start.
On Saturday she shoots for her first win over further than a mile, her regular rider Jason Holder retaining the ride on the $13 chance.
She did it tough in the Group 3 lead-up from gate 18 of 20 last time out and will appreciate a better draw on the weekend, the closest to the inside she’ll jump being barrier 10.
Comprende has Adelaide’s top hoop Dom Tourneur in the saddle as the daughter of I Am Invincible, who was well-beaten in the Auraria Stakes defeated over three lengths, looks to turn the tables on her last start conquerors.
She was also runner-up in the Laelia Stakes the run before with Tourneur aboard, the jockey having won the Australasia Oaks in 2013 on Stokes’ second winner of the classic Maybe Discreet.
Stokes’ other SAJC Oaks winner was Marju Snip (2006) a decade ago who Steven Arnold rode to victory and Comprende is paying $26 to make it three for the Morphettville horseman.
Along with Silent Sedition there are currently four other single-figure hopes in the Australasian Oaks odds including the undefeated Abbey Marie in barrier three.
Jockey Luke Nolen rode Lights Of Heaven (2011) to victory in the race five years ago and returns in 2016 partnering Michael Kent’s dual winning daughter of Redoute’s Choice who is as yet untested in stakes company.
The next best in betting with the outside alley to overcome is Arcadia Dream ($7.50) from the Perth stables of Grant Williams.
WA hoop William Pike travels over for the ride on the classy daughter of Domesday, Arcadia Dream last seen winning the Group 2 WATC Derby (2400m) over the boys on April 16.
Rounding out the chances under $10 for the win are the John Sadler-trained VOBIS Gold Reef winner Bengal Cat ($8.50) in the second widest alley and Believe ($9) for Anthony Cummings.
Fastnet Rock filly Believe has her third Group 1 run on the trot following her ninth in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill and her brave last start third behind Sofia Rosa in the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) from April 9.
See below for the full Schweppes Oaks 2016 field, barriers, jockeys and latest Fixed Win odds provided by Ladbrokes.com.au!
