The major sprint showdown on the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes card on Saturday is the 2017 Oakleigh Plate, betting tips and the latest odds on the Caulfield feature found below.

Punters have plenty of top short-distance specialists to sort through in this season’s $500,000 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) with an eighteen-starter field set to face off in Caulfield Race 8 at 4:50pm (AEDT).

Of the contenders, four are under double-figures for the win in the latest Oakleigh Plate odds at Ladbrokes.com.au including the $3.80 favourite Extreme Choice.

Trainer Mick Price stole the show on this day 12 months ago with Extreme Choice defeating stablemate Flying Artie in the Blue Diamond.

He returns this year with the reigning Blue Diamond Stakes winner taking on a field of older rivals in the Oakleigh Plate first-up.

Extreme Choice was able to get the better of an open-age field in the spring winning the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) before his last start fifth to Flying Artie in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) down the Flemington straight.

His love of the Caulfield track, this distance when resuming from a decent barrier with Craig Newitt are all positives for the youngster.

The other key players in Oakleigh Plate betting 2017 are Fell Swoop ($7) who ran second in this race to Flamberge last autumn and market mover Hellbent ($13) drawn wide for the Darren Weir stable but set to peak third-up.

Earlier in the week we published our comprehensive 2017 Oakleigh Plate Form Guide & Betting Preview and based on the race facts and stats, below are our insider tips to take to Ladbrokes.com.au.

1^st

#5 Sheidel ($10)

Plenty of class sprinters making for a race full of value including this Lindsay Park-trained mare at double-figures. She has good form at Caulfield (3-2-1-0) including a Group 3 win here in October and is a genuine 1100m sprinter (6-4-1-0) so won’t find the distance or her rivals first-up in this too sharp. Last start was a second in Perth’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m), she is drawn a treat in barrier three for this and has the benefit of the ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira in the saddle. Gets the run of the race and in on just 53kg, the lightest she has carted in a race since May last year. Right age for the win (5yo) and first-up runners have a good record in this, plus she flies fresh (5-2-1-1).

2^nd

#2 Fell Swoop ($7)

Lots to like about the returning Darley Classic third placegetter. Carried 58.5kg for the half-length placing down the Flemington straight and is in on 56kg this weekend. Gives six kilos away to rivals like Group 1 winning filly I Am A Star, but still a genuine chance in this grade. Another stellar first-up performer who will be right in the mix.

3^rd

#3 Extreme Choice ($3.80)

The favourite has Group 1 winning form over older horses so is well-proven in this class. Good barrier nine draw getting plenty of options, okay in on 54kg. Newitt rides the colt at his pet track (2-2-0-0) and if he performs the way he did fresh last start, he’ll be blitzing the clock and giving them something to catch.

Back our exclusive Oakleigh Plate 2017 tips online now or back your own exotic Caulfield racing selections at the best prices through Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).