Robert Smerdon’s classy Melbourne-based filly Fontein Ruby is the headline nomination for the Australasian Oaks 2015 on Robert Sangster Stakes Day at Adelaide’s Morphettville Racecourse this weekend.

Fontein Ruby is the headline nominee and early 2015 Australasian Oaks favourite for Morphettville this weekend. Photo: Adrienne Bicknell.

Adelaide is host to a double shot of Group 1 autumn racing action on Saturday including the three-year-old fillies facing off in the $400,000 Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m), run as the Schweppes Oaks under set weights conditions.

This year’s Schweppes Oaks nominations attracted a bumper 38 entries with the early favourite in the pre-field odds at Ladbrokes.com.au being Turffontein filly Fontein Ruby ($3.40).

The striking black youngster has won six of her 17 career starts to date including her past two on the trot.

She failed in Group 1 company at the start of March at Flemington when dead last (14^th) behind Wandjina in the Australian Guineas (1600m) but improved to win the Listed Alexandra Stakes (1600m) next run at Moonee Valley.

She won again last time out at Caulfield on April 18 in the Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria VOBIS Gold Reef (1600m) and is now dominating markets for her run over 2000m, a distance she has winning form in the Group 3 Caulfield Classic over from last October.

Smerdon has also thrown in a nomination for his Grey Swallow filly Ungrateful Ellen, a last start winner over the Bendigo mile.

There is also set to be plenty of support for fellow Melbourne raider Fenway from the Seymour stables of Lee & Shannon Hope.

The 102-rated High Chaparral filly enjoyed her second career win last time out at Rosehill on March 28 and will be chasing back-to-back Group 1s after she defeated First Seal by a neck in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) over the same distance as this weekend’s Oaks.

Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller meanwhile has two livewire Australasian Oaks nominees this weekend with Ballet Suite and Wine Tales both set to feature in the markets if accepted.

Ballet Suite, a daughter of High Chaparral, ran fourth to Fenway in the Vinery Stud Stakes two back before she went up to the mile and a half for the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) on April 11 crossing a distant eighth over a distance she failed to run out.

Wine Tales comes via a different path, the Tale Of The Cat filly last seen running second to Hi World when she took on the boys in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick on April 18.

Flemington’s Nigel Blackiston is also out for an Oaks win in Adelaide on Saturday with his Domesday filly Cathy’s Mark having her third straight run at the track.

She’s building up to a big run having finished third to Ondina two back in the Listed Laelia Stakes (1600m) in March and then fourth last start behind Fitocracy in the Group 3 Auraria Stakes (1800m).

Jon O’Connor’s locally-trained Auraria Stakes winner Fiotcracy is also nominated for an Oaks back-up, the Denman filly to chase just her second win at the track.

Other notable Australasian Oaks nominations this year include the Grant Williams-trained Perth visitor Delicacy who has won her past four back in WA including the Group 3 WA Oaks (2400m) – Group 2 WATC Derby (2400m) double, Luke Oliver’s Auraria Stakes runner-up Kansas Sunflower and Sea Spray for Caulfield’s John Moloney.

The 2015 Schweppes Australasian Oaks final field and barriers are out on Wednesday making now the time to head over to Ladbrokes.com.au and back your early favourites at their generous all-in prices at the bookie that does betting better!

2015 Australasian Oaks Nominations

Morphettville Racecourse – 02/05/2015