FEATURE RACE PREVIEW: OAKLEIGH PLATE

Racing tips and betting strategy for Saturday’s Group 1 Oakleigh Plate are online now. Preview, speed map, race analysis, racing tips & betting strategy for the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield with Dean Evans of Winning Edge Investments.

Only on the Betfair Hub. Racing tips and full in-depth preview and analysis of each race and betting strategy are online now!

Click here to head to the Oakleigh Plate market on the Betfair Exchange.

OAKLEIGH PLATE

Track: Caulfield | Distance: 1100m | Condition: Handicap | Rail Position: +3m Entire | Track Condition: Good 4 | Prizemoney: $750,000

No rain forecast. 23-24 degrees forecast for Thursday/Friday, and 27 degrees for Saturday. Track should play well and remain a Good 4. Fence may not be the place to be on Saturday, but that gives the vast majority of horses their chance and is substantially better and fairer than the alternative at Caulfield when the fence is on fire and only a handful of runners in each race can win.

Won in recent years by some handy sprinters including Portland Sky, Pippie, Booker, Russian Revolution, Shamal Wind, Lankan Rupee & Woorim!

Historical Profiling:

• Settled Top 6 (8), Settled 10th+ (3)
• Barrier 3-8 (5), Barrier 10-15 (6)
• 1st up (8), 2nd up (2), 3rd up (1)
• Weight 50 (1), 52-54 (6), 55.5-58 (4)
• Days since last start: 14 (1), 21 (1), 33 (1), 77-91 (2), 107-112 (5), 148 (1)
• Age: 3 (1), 4 (5), 5 (3), 6 (2)
• Gender: Mares (6), Geldings (3), Entires (1), Colts (1)

---

SPEED MAP RACING TIPS

Fast early speed engaged as expected with Marabi, Jonker, Malkovich and Oxley Road all liking to dominate from the front. Wild Ruler, Away Game, General Beau & Bella Nipotina settle midfield. Zoutori, Poland, Streetcar Stranger, Minhaaj and Ingratiating out the back.

---

KEY RUNNERS + RACING TIPS

1. Wild Ruler

5 starts for 3 wins and 2 2nds fresh up. G1 winner last prep in the Moir. Has trialled very well leading into this, beating Nature Strip & Espiona at Rosehill 900m 31 Jan, then winning Warwick Farm 1000m 14 Feb trial +4.2. Strong chance here.

2. Zoutori

Ran 2nd in this race 2 years ago, and 7th beaten 1.25L last year. Won the G1 Newmarket this time last year. Can run a big race here again.

3. Jonker

Won the G1 Manikato last start. Has plenty of early speed and will give a sight.

4. Bella Nipotina

Flying since joining the Maher-Eustace camp. G3 winner last prep, then 2nd beaten a nose in the G1 Manikato and 3rd to Nature Strip in the G1 VRC Sprint. She profiles very nicely for this.

5. Marabi

Has won 5 from 5 in career to date.

9. Minhaaj

Flew last prep in two runs for new trainer J O’shea, winning at G3 level both times. Won the Belle Bogonia last start which has produced the winner of this race 4 times in recent years. She has the ability to measure up to this.

---

SUMMARY

I have to bet around Marabi here. 7/4 just looks too short to me. 4yo mares Bella Nipotina & Minhaaj profile very nicely for this race. Wild Ruler is a proven G1 sprinter who goes well fresh. Zoutori can shock here at a big price.

---

TOP 5 SELECTIONS

4 – Bella Nipotina
9 – Minhaaj
1 – Wild Ruler
2 – Zoutori
5 – Marabi

---

BETTING STRATEGY

BACK (WIN) — Bella Nipotina for 1 unit

BACK (WIN) — Minhaaj for 1 unit

BACK (WIN) — Wild Ruler for 0.7 units

BACK (WIN) — Zoutori for 0.3 units

Click here to head to the Oakleigh Plate market on the Betfair Exchange.

---

RESULTS

Units Outlayed: 232.9

Units Returned: 257.9

Profit On Turnover: 10.7%

Click here to head back to the Feature Race Previews Hub.