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Oaklands Plate Preview

A field of six runners will line up in the penultimate Stakes race of the season as the two-year-olds look to add a much sort after black-type victory to their resume.

The History

This is the third year that the Oaklands Plate has been run as a 1400m race in recent times. The seven years prior since the race was moved to Morphettville, it had been run over the mile in May during the Adelaide Autumn Carnival.

Tony McEvoy trained last year’s winner Unfair Dismissal and the colt was a six start veteran heading into the Oaklands Plate. He ran third in his last start a month prior but already had two wins to his name. It was McEvoy’s second win in the race, claiming the feature back in 2005 with Crevette.

The year prior, David Brideoake’s horse Terry claimed the Oaklands after winning his debut race by 1.25L. He was a $3.50 chance in the Oaklands that day and stormed home from the tail of the field to beat Kardashing and the talented Bring Me Roses.

Jason Holder has won this race three times in his career, first winning the race in 1996 on We Will Fly before going back to back in 2002 and 2003 with Hydrometer and Mot D’or. On each three occasions he won aboard horses for Hall of Fame trainer Leon Macdonald.

The Chances

We have two boys and four girls lining up in Saturday’s feature and it looks to be a fairly open affair.

Iscariot ($5) won his debut race comfortably at Gawler in May as the $1.55 favourite. He then got beaten by Santorini Summer last start and may have had excuses. Todd Pannell keeps the ride for Will Clarken and the two have combined for 22 wins at 23.9% this season.

Jack’s a Cracker ($61) finished sixth in that same race that Iscariot has come out of for Dom Tourneur and Grant Young. Would need bit of improvement but funny things can happen in a six horse field.

Westport ($2.10) could not have been more impressive in her last two starts recording comfortable wins at Balaklava and Morphettville. Was competitive in Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview earlier this year. Barend Vorster and Tony McEvoy are one of the hottest duos this season, combining for 30 wins at 28.8%.

Pouting Lips ($11) is the Victorian visitor from the Danny O’Brien stable who won this race back in 2012 with Donna Cattiva. He knows how to train a two-year-old and the filly looks quite talented.

Indiscretion ($5) was a bit disappointing last start as favourite at Sandown and will be looking to bounce back here on Saturday. Phillip Stokes is having a great season and each time he brings his horses back to South Australia they usually run well.

Zoulah ($4) is Tony McEvoy’s second runner and she makes her race debut here. She recorded a trial win last week at the new Murray Bridge track and will be ridden by Raquel Clark who has all but wrapped up this year’s Metropolitan Jockey’s Premiership. 

The Selections

It’s hard not to be impressed by Westport’s form. She’s short at $2.10 but looks like a classy filly. Respect the Victorian visitor Pouting Lips who could be over the odds at $11. 

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