Flying New Zealand-trained filly Bonneval is tipped to hand Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman a Group 1 three-years-old staying double this weekend heading the 2017 Australian Oaks odds for Saturday.
Kiwi trainer Murray Baker [pictured with jockey James McDonald] saddles-up the NZ Oaks winner Bonneval in Saturday’s 2017 ATC Oaks field in Sydney. Photo: Steve Hart.
Drawn better than mid-field with barrier six in the fourteen starter line-up, the daughter of Makfi is bred to stay and made that apparent posting her third win on the trot last time out in the Group 1 NZ Oaks (2400m).
Last Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival that race produced the ATC Oaks winner Sofia Rosa, prepared by Stephen Marsh, who improved on her NZ Oaks second to win the Sydney edition.
She ed Rising Romance (2014) and Daffodil (2009) as the recent New Zealand-trained Australian Oaks winners and now Bonneval is tipped to be the next in 2017.
Current Australian Oaks odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have Bonneval at $4 with last year’s winning hoop Hugh Bowman booked for the ride.
Bowman chases his fourth Australian Oaks win having also ridden the aforementioned Daffodil (2009) and the Guy Walter-trained Streama (2014), who jumped from the same barrier six draw Bonneval is allocated this autumn, to victory in the classic.
The Australian Oaks hasn’t exactly been happy hunting ground for the favourites in recent years however with Streama the only one to salute since Serenade Rose in 2006.
Occupying the second line of ATC Oaks betting at $5 is Harlow Gold drawn out in barrier twelve for the Lindsay Park stable.
She comes off a third in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) on March 25 and stretches out over the further distance for the first time since her second in the Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington during the spring.
The Vinery Stud Stakes effort from Harlow Gold was brave on the Heavy (9) track and firming conditions this weekend have co-trainer David Hayes confident his filly can improve.
“I thought Regan [Bayliss] pushed the button a bit early [last start] and he had the race in his keeping and went early,” Hayes told The Daily Telegraph.
“I would just love the weather to come good at some stage.
“She got through [the Heavy going] pretty well in the Vinery and you would never scratch her but you would prefer her on top of the ground. The drier it is, the more confident I would be.”
Early mover in the Australian Oaks odds in from $6 to $5.50 meanwhile is the Vinery Stud Stakes runner-up Nurse Kitchen who has the outside barrier fourteen draw to overcome this weekend.
Despite the alley the money is coming for the daughter of Savabeel to handle her first run over the mile and a half on Saturday and Mornington-based trainer David Brideoake said the barrier was the problem of jockey Blake Shinn.
“She’s as good as gold,” he said of Nurse Kitchen.
“What can you do [about the gate]. That’s his problem now.”
The last of the single-figure hopefuls are the Crown Oaks winner Lasqueti Spirit ($8) coming off a fifth to Jameka in The BMW and the NZ Derby runner-up Devise ($8) to be ridden by Damien Oliver.
Check out the latest Australian Oaks 2017 odds below following the links to Ladbrokes.com.au to back your favourite fillies at the hottest autumn racing prices.
