This Saturday March 26 Western Australia’s Ascot Racecourse will host one of their biggest race days for the autumn, the meet headlined by the $250,000 Group 3 W.A. Oaks (2400m).
An elite showdown for three-year-old fillies, the 2011 W.A. Oaks final field and barrier draw has been released with 14 gallopers set to face off.
Early favourite in the W.A. Oaks betting is the Grant Williams-trained Dreamaway.
The well-bred daughter of More Than Ready has drawn midfield in barrier seven for Saturday to be ridden by WA’s leading jockey William Pike as Dreamaway seeks her fourth consecutive win.
Last month Dreamaway enjoyed wins in the Group 3 W.A. Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) and Listed Ascot 1000 Guineas (1800m) before her latest victory in the Listed Natasha Stakes (2200m) where she beat home stablemate Moonlight Bay by an easy 2 ½ lengths after overcoming a wide barrier 15 draw.
The Natasha Stakes has served as an excellent guide to the W.A. Oaks in recent years with Impressive Jeuney taking out the Natasha Stakes / W.A. Oaks double 12 months ago.
In fact, the past 10 W.A. Oaks winners came off a top three finish in the Natasha Stakes.
Catbird filly Moonlight Bay is also set to back up in the W.A. Oaks on Saturday, drawn one inside of the favourite in barrier six.
Both Dreamaway and Moonlight Bay are owned by Bob Peters and their performance in the W.A. Oaks on Saturday will determine whether Peters presses on for Group 1 glory in the 2011 WATC Derby with the fillies on April 2.

Playing God is the early favourite for the 2011 WATC Derby
Hot favourite for the $500,000 Group 1 Schweppes WATC Derby (2400m) is Neville Parnham’s Australian Guineas and Australian Cup placegetter Playing God.
In the WA Oaks Parnham will be represented by Testa Altezza, the daughter of Testa Rossa coming off a disappointing 14th in the Natasha Stakes and drawing poorly with barrier 13 for Saturday.
Other notable acceptors in the 2011 W.A. Oaks Field include:
- Why She Left (Vernon Brockman) – Al Maher filly finished a game third in the Natasha Stakes last start, drawn ideally in barrier three
- A True Business (Gavin Foster) – Key Business filly third-up for the season, finished fourth in the Natasha Stakes drawn wide in barrier 12 but could still finish in the money if pace is right
Betting markets and odds for the 2011 W.A. Oaks will be released at leading online bookmaker Luxbet shortly making now the perfect time to open your Luxbet account.
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2011 Skyy Vodka W.A. Oaks Field, Barriers & Weights
# | Horse | Barrier | Weight (kg) | Jockey | Trainer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | DREAMAWAY | 7 | 55 | William Pike | Grant Williams |
2 | WHY SHE LEFT | 3 | 55 | – | Vernon Brockman |
3 | MOONLIGHT BAY | 6 | 55 | Jason Whiting | Grant Williams |
4 | IHTSATUNE | 11 | 55 | – | Fred Kersley |
5 | TESTA ALTEZZA | 13 | 55 | – | Neville Parnham |
6 | BELLABEN | 5 | 55 | Troy Turner | Shane Edwards |
7 | VIARISE | 8 | 55 | Shaun O’Donnell | Paul Dyson |
8 | A TRUE BUSINESS | 12 | 55 | – | Gavin Foster |
9 | SVARA | 10 | 55 | – | Fred Kersley |
10 | HANG ON HONEY | 14 | 55 | – | Bob McPherson |
11 | STRIPED CAT | 9 | 55 | – | Fred Kersley |
12 | IHTSADAME | 4 | 55 | – | Vernon Brockman |
13 | LADYSEA | 2 | 55 | Paul Harvey | Tony Noonan |
14 | SYSTEM SIX | 1 | 55 | Duncan Miller | Sharon Miller |