Oakleigh Plate

This Saturday, February 20, Melbourne’s Caulfield Racecourse is set to host one of the most anticipated race meetings of their autumn carnival, the prestigious Blue Diamond Stakes Day. The headline race of the day is the $1million Blue Diamond Stakes, but many punters will also be keen to get in on the action of the day’s other Group 1 event, the $400, 000 Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate (1100m).

The 13 horse final field for the 2010 Oakleigh Plate has been announced, with the barrier draw creating an open and exciting betting market. Currently sharing favouritism for the sprint feature are Lucky Secret and Wanted at $5 with SportsBet.

The Tony Vasil-trained Lucky Secret has drawn wide with barrier eight. The six-year-old Rubiton gelding placed second to Here De Angles last start in the Group 3 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield and has won 14 of their 24 career starts. On Saturday he will be ridden by in-form hoop Nash Rawiller.

Wanted, the other horse vying for favouritism, has on the other hand drawn ideally with barrier three. Prepared by premier trainer Peter G Moody, the promising three-year-old Fastnet Rock colt is coming off a frustrating string of second placings in Group 1 events including the William Reid Stakes (1200m) and Lightning Stakes. Rider Luke Nolen will be doing all he can to secure the win on Saturday and bring Wanted to his well deserved status as a Group 1 winner.

Moody is well represented in the 2010 Oakleigh Plate and aside from his top chance Wanted, also has Headway (br. 4), Avenue (br.12) and Tickets (br. 13) all lining up.

Currently a $15 chance for Saturday’s Oakleigh Plate, three-year-old filly Headway is an exciting prospect following her Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes win back in October and her solid fifth place finish in the Lightning Stakes last start.

Occupying the second line of betting for the 2010 Oakleigh Plate at $6.50 are Here De Angels and Starspangledbanner.

Here De Angels, trained by Mark Kavanagh, has displayed impressive recent form lately and is coming off a last start victory in the Rubiton Stakes. The six-year-old has drawn barrier five for the Oakleigh Plate and will be ridden by Michael Rodd.

The Leon Corstens-trained Starspangledbanner will start beside Here De Angels from barrier six. The three-year-old Choisir Colt ran a gallant fourth to Nicconi in the Lightning Stakes last start, but has not won a race since last October’s Caulfield Guineas.

Meanwhile, the Gai Waterhouse-trained Swift Alliance has secured barrier one, the favourable draw significantly shortening their odds to $10.

The field also includes past Racehorse of the Year Weekend Hussler, drawn wide in barrier 11. Weekend Hussler took out the Oakleigh Plate in 2008. Despite the fact that Weekend Hussler is a seven time Group 1 winner, the bookies have cautiously installed him at odds of $13. He has only recently returned to racing after missing the spring due to injury, but ran a solid fourth in the Lightning Stakes and fifth in the Australia Stakes since returning to the scene.

The 2010 Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate is scheduled as race eight at Caulfield’s bumper nine-event programme on Saturday and is due to jump at 4:40pm (VIC time).

2010 Oakleigh Plate Final Field & Barrier Draw: