Races

Deane Lester’s Oaks Day Best Bets

Deane Lester’s Best Bets

RACE 1 NO.8 IMPI

Lightly raced five year old IMPI looks ideally placed when he contests the Benchmark 90 Handicap (1800m) and should prove hard to beat. The Pat Carey trained gelding suffered his first defeat in four starts when finishing 3rd behind HARBOUR VIEWS over 1500 metres at Geelong on October 23. He missed the start in that race, then had to be rushed into the race and looked a touch keen in the run. He battled on well over the final stages, should be even fitter for that run and gets the services of champion rider Kerrin McEvoy. He has more upside than his rivals and looks one of the better bets of the day.


RACE 7 NO.10 RUSSIAN CAMELOT

One of the most interesting runners on the Oaks Day program is RUSSIAN CAMELOT who runs in the TCL TV Stakes (1800m). The Danny O’Brien trained colt created a huge impression winning on debut over 1400 metres at Ballarat on October 11. The fascination of this horse is that he is bred to Northern Hemisphere time so he’s about six months younger than the majority of his rivals. It was a such a stunning debut win that he looks good enough to beat this field, just like his illustrious stablemate and now Melbourne Cup winner VOW AND DECLARE did when recording a victory in this race last year. He also has Damien Oliver in the saddle and looks an exciting horse in the making.


RACE 9 NO.2 CALIFORNIA ZIMBOL

It’s a long wait but should be worthwhile for the best bet of the day CALIFORNIA ZIMBOL in the Red Roses Stakes (1100m). The daughter of I Am Invincible is building an impressive record of three wins from five starts which includes a stunning last start win over subsequent group one winner LOVING GABY in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on October 12. She has subsequently trialled strongly down the Flemington straight on October 25 and looks a high class filly in the making. She is another top rider for Kerrin McEvoy and should send Flemington punters home on a winning note.

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