A near capacity field has been assembled for the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) this Saturday at Caulfield.
Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for the 2025 Oakleigh Plate.
2025 Oakleigh Plate Runner Preview:
1. I Am Me: I Am Me is here to rock and roll and for mine is very hard to beat here vs the Lightning last Saturday. She resumes for Ciaron Maher and looks desperate for that Group l. Perhaps it is a blessing they missed the Lightning because they face a weaker field here, she gets her firm deck, likes Caulfield…clear threat.
2. Estriella: Connections are desperate to get their Group l win with this girl and this looks one of her better chances. Sizzled in the a recent piece of work at Cranbourne…I think the market and yard wll be fascinating.
3. Golden Boom: Golden Boom has been kept on ice for Tony Gollan, having not raced since The Goldmarket when an all the way winner at the Gold Coast, showing good fight late to fend them off and get the job done. He does look a short course specialist and the stable should be respected when they come to Melbourne.
4. Ostraka: Trialled like Black Caviar…but the gate…oh dear, it’s a nightmare, plus gets M Zahra, who is a rider I am struggling to back with confidence in these big races. He can win…but I’d rather watch.
5. Rey Magnerio: The race two weeks ago was a joke re race shape and he was able to dash best to win. He’s a ripper, ran well in the race last year…but for mine, he seems incredibly short given the race last time was poor.
6. Insurrection: Rare that B Shinn gets one wrong, but he went too slow on this guy first up and was nabbed late. I think let him run in front and he’ll run a cheeky race at a price. But as I said, that race he comes out of stinks for mine.
7. Jimmysstar: Is he here to play? He was an electric track/distance winner first up last prep but the gate makes things tricky. Just needs luck from the draw, a drag into the race and can launch at them late.
8. Brudenell: SCR
9. Hard To Say: He’s a ripping sprinter. But no at Group l level.
10. Sghirripa: Sghirripa will an absolute beauty here in search of Oakleigh Plate redemption. He was well fancied in this race last year but was very good against the pattern. He didn’t quite go on with it afterwards but has been given a good break with this race in mind and his trial win at Morphettville…they don’t go much better. He’ll rock and roll, only run well.
11. Ashford Street: What a beauty he has been. Christmas Stakes winner that has been kept on ice with this race in mind. Very genuine, maps to get thee run of the race…not sure he wins but a must for exotics.
12. Headwall: He is a sleeper. He is a sharp sprinter when right and was a big winner of The Warra before being spelled. Trial work has been very good, he’ll sit off the hot speed and launch at them late. He can win.
13. Prairie Flower: Why is she $51+? Against the race shape, she was very good behind Rey Magnerio, running a close up third. She’ll do no work from the inside gate…will need luck but a win won’t shock at all.
14. Sans Doute: Talented mare that resumes. I think she is a Stakes class mare…a Group l mare though? Based on what I’ve seen from her jumpouts, it’s eyes towards the Newmarket.
15. She’s Bulletproof: Love this mare but the set up is awful for mine. Deep into a prep and comes back to 1100m after several 1200m runs. She’ll be spotting them a start and will be strong late…but for mine, she’s way too short.
16. Arabian Summer: She has done little wrong in a nine start career and is a short course specialist…but this is a bridge too far surely?
17. Espionage: Espionage is a fascinating runner. GaiBott trained three year old that was on a path towards The Everest in the Spring but injury meant he was sent for a spell. He has been given a very solid grounding for his return with extensive trial/jumpout work and has looked strong. Watch the market.
2025 Oakleigh Plate Odds
2025 Oakleigh Plate Speed Map
Think the tempo will be quite genuine here. Estriella looks like she’ll be ridden with intent to land on speed, but will have pressure courtesy of Golden Boom and Insurrection, who like to sit near the front. Ostraka is drawn wide…do they roll the dice and go forward? Or drag back for luck.
2025 Oakleigh Plate $100 Betting Strategy:
$20 Win/$80 Place Sghirripa BOB via Topsport.
Group l Strategy Outlay: $3400
Group l Strategy Return: $1687
