The Godolphin-raced Bivouac returns to racing this weekend in the 2020 Oakleigh Plate with betting on the short distance feature dominated by the Group 1 winning three-year-old.

Punters are treated to a triple shot of elite level racing at Caulfield on Saturday including the sprinters doing battle in the Group 1 $500,000 Neds Oakleigh Plate (1100m).

There is a capacity field of 18 in the mix with the emergency Vainstream (1) getting a run from the inside alley following the early scratching of the widely drawn I Am Immortal (18).

Sitting top of the Oakleigh Plate odds online through Ladbrokes.com.au at $2.70 and firming is the James Cummings-trained Exceed And Excel colt Bivouac.

The gun youngster is drawn ideally with a midfield gate seven barrier with Craig Williams booked for the first-up ride.

Bivouac has won five of his 11 starts to date and has a stellar record over the 1100m distance of the Oakleigh Plate with three wins and a second from four runs.

Winner of the Group 2 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill last September defeating subsequent The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes (2^nd) and Exceedance (3^rd).

Exceedance turned the tables in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) defeating Bivouac home narrowly down the Flemington straight on November 2.

That was Bivouac’s last start but a subsequent barrier trial win at Rosehill has brought him on fitness-wise for his return this weekend.

First-up at the same track and distance last August Bivouac blitzed his rivals by over four lengths in the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m).

This is tougher but he looks a genuine hope ticking plenty of boxes for his test against the older horses on Blue Diamond Day.

“His first-up win in the Vain Stakes here in the spring was exceptional and the form stood up,” Cummings told the media this week.

“I was very happy with his trial win at Rosehill a few weeks ago and a jump out in Melbourne last Friday has him primed and ready.”

Despite the size of the field, just two other runners are currently under double figures in the latest Oakleigh Plate markets with Anaheed ($5.50) and the market mover Pippie ($11 into $87.50).

Prepared by Peter & Paul Snowden who won the race in 2018 with Russian Revolution, smart Fastnet Rock filly Anaheed is another three-year-old getting the love from the punters.

She is a two-time winner from three previous starts at the Caulfield track including her impressive victory-up victory in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100) a fortnight back.

Lankan Rupee (2014) was the last horse to complete the Rubiton Stakes – Oakleigh Plate double Anaheed is out to emulate this season.

The handicap conditions see the filly come back from 54kg to the 51kg lightweight and with nothing on her back, fitter for her Rubiton run and a draw that will keep her out of trouble (15) there is a lot to like about Anaheed in the Oakleigh Plate.

Pippie is drawn one on her inside (14), the John & Chris Meagher-trained Written Tycoon mare chasing her fifth win at start number nine.

She won the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) here last August and races for the first time since her second at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Undefeated fresh (2:2-0-0), Pippie is a lightly raced and weighted progressive type who will be up on the pace early.

Other notable hopes include the 58kg topweight veteran Ball Of Muscle ($26) and the ultra-consistent Rubiton Stakes runner-up Bold Star ($14).

Click here for the latest Oakleigh Plate 2020 odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2020 Oakleigh Plate Field & Barriers

#	Form (Last 10)	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight	Hcp. Rating
1	1x19x3022x	BALL OF MUSCLE	Joseph Pride	Glyn Schofield	13	58kg	109
2	1100x1336x	ZOUTORI	Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra	Jamie Kah	2	56kg	105
3	41x121162x	BIVOUAC	James Cummings	Craig Williams	7	55.5kg	110
4	1320x1487x	FAATINAH	David & B Hayes & T Dabernig	Regan Bayliss	5	55.5kg	104
5	025x2255x4	BONS AWAY	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	Jye McNeil	12	55kg	103
6	3x657x1653	CRYSTAL DREAMER	Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra	Damian Lane	9	55kg	103
7	1272x229x	TROPE	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	Dwayne Dunn	6	52.5kg	98
8	10x180x133	ALL TOO ROYAL	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	Michael Dee	10	52kg	95
9	445x11360x	ANJANA	Lindsey Smith	Zac Spain	17	52kg	84
10	2116×11212	BOLD STAR	Gordon Richards	Daniel Moor	8	52kg	97
11	38x17219x6	FINE DANE	John Moloney	Beau Mertens	11	52kg	87
12	x41259x111	HALVORSEN	Robbie Griffiths	Dean Yendall	4	52kg	97
13	1466x116x5	HUMMA HUMMA	John McArdle	William Pike	3	52kg	99
14	2918×92332	MYSTYKO (NZ)	Trevor Rogers	Dean Holland	16	52kg	93
15	127x11102x	PIPPIE	John & Chris Meagher	Ms Linda Meech	14	52kg	97
16	61x93513x1	ANAHEED	Peter & Paul Snowden	Tim Clark	15	51kg	105
17	117x7x2	I AM IMMORTAL	Anthony Freedman	Damien Thornton	18	50kg	89
18	1130×2	FREE OF DEBT	Chris Bieg	Craig Newitt	19	50kg	88
19e	4×39071523	VAINSTREAM	John Pascoe	Anthony Darmanin	1	52kg	80