Suspended trainer Ciaron Maher may be out of action for six months starting on Monday, but a gun filly from his stables leads the Crown Oaks 2017 nominations this spring with Aloisia being kept safe in early betting.
Aloisia is a key 2017 VRC Crown Oaks nominated filly for this year’s feature at Flemington. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Racing Victoria took nominations on Tuesday morning for a host of Melbourne Cup Carnival races including those for the Group 1 $1 million VRC Crown Oaks (2500m) run this year as the Kennedy Oaks.
Contested on Thursday November 9 two days after the Melbourne Cup, the Kennedy Oaks attracted 92 early entries.
Futures Crown Oaks betting at Ladbrokes.com.au on the staying feature for three-year-old fillies has Azamour filly Aloisia fighting for early favouritism with Anchor Bid from the star Victorian stables of Darren Weir.
Come Crown Oaks Day, Maher won’t be listed as the trainer of Aloisia, but he has done all the early groundwork and won the race on back-to-back years with Set Square (2014) and Jameka (2015).
Aloisia has had five starts to date including a 1400m win at Flemington back in May and raced first-up last Saturday at Caulfield with a credible fifth behind Leather’n’lace over the same distance.
Tipped to improve the further she goes, she also holds a nomination for the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) run on October 14 with an exact path to the Crown Oaks still to be mapped out.
Aloisia could be joined in the VRC Crown Oaks field in November by untapped stablemate Kitsune, a well-bred daughter of Foxwedge who has had two starts for two seconds during August.
Kitsune is accepted for a key early Crown Oaks lead-up race this Wednesday at Flemington in the $50,000 Kennedy Oaks Trial (1800m) where she gets the chance to show her ability over more distance.
The other Maher entry is Naantali who won at Cranbourne on debut on September 20.
The other top fancy in the all-in Crown Oaks odds is the aforementioned Anchor Bid whose last start was on September 14 for a mile win carrying 58.5kg at Bendigo.
Her only black-type start to date was a second to Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas favourite Royal Symphony over the Flemington mile back in July and she is also showing early staying potential.
Anchor Bid is another acceptor for this week’s Kennedy Oaks Trial, the results of which could have a notable impact on the upcoming Group 1 racing markets.
Weir has a total of five Crown Oaks entries with Anchor Bid joined by the flying Leather’n’lace who has won her past three on the trot, Limestone who fell in the Danehill Stakes last start, Sopressa and Teodora.
Another early standout chance for the VRC Oaks at nomination stage is the Stuart Webb-trained Coral Coast.
Caulfield horseman Webb was super impressed with what the young daughter of So You Think showed last Saturday at Rosehill Gardens when she backed up from her breakthrough win to finish third behind Ace High in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) as a $21 shot against the colts and geldings.
The VRC Oaks nominations this Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival also feature potential staying type Think Diamonds.
Anthony Freedman prepares So You Think filly Think Diamonds who has twice run third to Anchor Bid and who takes on that filly again in Wednesday’s Kennedy Oaks trial.
The most notable omission was New Zealand-trained Gold Fever, the Savabeel filly having won the Group 2 Matamata Breeders Stakes (1200m) in late February and before a last start third third at Ellerslie in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m).
The Crown Oaks first acceptances are open until October 24 before the final field and barriers are released on November 6.
Check out the full 2017 Kennedy Crown Oaks Nominations below, updated betting also open at Ladbrokes.com.au.
2017 Crown Oaks Nominations
Flemington Racecourse – 09/11/2017
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6x | A MA SHAY | F | 3 | Pat Carey |
| 2 | 01x | ALL COME TRUE | F | 3 | Robert Smerdon |
| 3 | 7×5435 | ALL TOO GOOD | F | 3 | Gary Portelli |
| 4 | 52x12x5 | ALOISIA (NZ) | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher |
| 5 | 58×62 | AMTHAAL | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 6 | 37211 | ANCHOR BID | F | 3 | Darren Weir |
| 7 | 1614 | ANGELIC SPIRIT (NZ) | F | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 8 | 33×14 | AONAIR | F | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 9 | 6×3 | AUDITIONED | F | 3 | Mick Price |
| 10 | – | BAGNAIA | F | 3 | John Hyam |
| 11 | 2x31x163 | BANISH | F | 3 | James Cummings |
| 12 | 9x | BERKSHIRE LADY | F | 3 | Danny O’Brien |
| 13 | 10×126 | BLONDIE | F | 3 | Brendan McCarthy |
| 14 | 432x | BRING ME ROSES | F | 3 | Tony McEvoy |
| 15 | – | CABIERRO | F | 3 | Anthony Freedman |
| 16 | 713x | CANADIENNE | F | 3 | James Cummings |
| 17 | 11110×21 | CATCHY | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 18 | 4x34x | CEREBELLUM | F | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 19 | 3x2x | CIRCULEIGHT | F | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 20 | 662 | COLLEGE ROMANCE | F | 3 | Anthony & Edward Cummings |
| 21 | 7413 | CORAL COAST | F | 3 | Stuart Webb |
| 22 | – | DIAMOND STAR HALO (NZ) | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 23 | 4×719 | FERROCERIUM | F | 3 | Brent Stanley |
| 24 | 53x0422x44 | FIFTH AFFAIR | F | 3 | Garry White |
| 25 | 9964 | FOUR KOALAS | F | 3 | Brian McGrath |
| 26 | 60×11 | GLAM GURU | F | 3 | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas |
| 27 | 3x | HAPUKA (NZ) | F | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 28 | 5×1 | HIYAAM (NZ) | F | 3 | Mick Price |
| 29 | 42x31x974 | I’LL HAVE A BIT | F | 3 | John McArdle |
| 30 | 34 | IMPROVISE | F | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 31 | 532x3x | ITALIA BELLA | F | 3 | Stuart Kendrick |
| 32 | 0324 | JUDY IN DISGUISE | F | 3 | John Sadler |
| 33 | 317x15x | JUSTICE GLORY | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 34 | 0x93 | KARMA CHAMELEON | F | 3 | Paul Perry |
| 35 | 22x | KITSUNE | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher |
| 36 | 99 | LADY IN PURPLE (NZ) | F | 3 | Andrew Noblet |
| 37 | 3×111 | LEATHER’N’LACE | F | 3 | Darren Weir |
| 38 | 6x57130x21 | LEGAL GIRL | F | 3 | Clarry Conners |
| 39 | – | LEMON SPLICE | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 40 | 7 | LIFEINTHEFASTTRAIN | F | 3 | Anthony Cosgriff |
| 41 | 2×1 | LILAS (NZ) | F | 3 | Robert Smerdon |
| 42 | 3112x4F | LIMESTONE | F | 3 | Darren Weir |
| 43 | 32x47x4 | LUCKY LOUIE | F | 3 | Anthony & Edward Cummings |
| 44 | 177 | LUVALUVA (NZ) | F | 3 | John Sargent |
| 45 | 3311482×4 | MARSEILLE EN FLEUR | F | 3 | Stuart Kendrick |
| 46 | 339×5 | MINTHA | F | 3 | Tony McEvoy |
| 47 | 066×8 | MISS ADMIRATION | F | 3 | Mick Price |
| 48 | 0x | MISSCINO | F | 3 | Robert Smerdon |
| 49 | 0 | MISSY ZIPPY | F | 3 | Matt Cumani |
| 50 | 1 | NAANTALI (NZ) | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher |
| 51 | 4×2 | OKLAHOMA DAYS | F | 3 | Mick Price |
| 52 | 15195×45 | ONE MORE HONEY | F | 3 | John P Thompson |
| 53 | 21x | OUR CROWN MISTRESS | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 54 | 88×445 | PAMANDO | F | 3 | John McArdle |
| 55 | 359×4119 | PANDEMONIUM | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 56 | 922 | PINOT | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 57 | 78x57x | PLAY THAT SONG | F | 3 | Michael Moroney |
| 58 | 9333 | PRES DE TOI | F | 3 | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra |
| 59 | 65 | PRINCESS MIA | F | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 60 | 4×731 | PRINCESS TITANIC (NZ) | F | 3 | Robert Smerdon |
| 61 | 1x316x97 | PURE SCOT | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 62 | 797211 | RED BRAIDS | F | 3 | Paul Perry |
| 63 | 6×43 | REEH | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 64 | 86×97 | RELIABLE DAME (NZ) | F | 3 | Anthony Freedman |
| 65 | 22x22x | RIMRAAM (NZ) | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 66 | 148×10 | ROOMOOZ | F | 3 | Tony McEvoy |
| 67 | 0x | RUE DE RENNES (NZ) | F | 3 | Michael Moroney |
| 68 | 0x4251 | SEABABE | F | 3 | Gary Portelli |
| 69 | 1x136x55x | SEANNIE | F | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 70 | 8×606 | SEKALI | F | 3 | Leon & Troy Corstens |
| 71 | 15×2 | SIA | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 72 | 2×03 | SISTER MAREE | F | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 73 | 674×348 | SMOOTH LANDING | F | 3 | John P Thompson |
| 74 | 034111×6 | SNAPCHAT GIRL | F | 3 | Les Kelly |
| 75 | 4341 | SNOGGING | F | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 76 | 8x3x | SOMNIUM | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 77 | 35 | SOPRESSA | F | 3 | Darren Weir |
| 78 | 0x442x | STATE OF PLAY | F | 3 | Gerald Ryan |
| 79 | 44×9 | STUDIO CITY | F | 3 | Matt Cumani |
| 80 | 72 | SWEET MISCHIEF | F | 3 | Tony McEvoy |
| 81 | – | TAM O’SHANTER | F | 3 | Michael Kent |
| 82 | 3x6x | TEMPLE OF BEL | F | 3 | Archie Alexander |
| 83 | 1 | TEODORA | F | 3 | Darren Weir |
| 84 | 83343 | THINK DIAMONDS | F | 3 | Anthony Freedman |
| 85 | 1x | TIGEEN (NZ) | F | 3 | Matt Cumani |
| 86 | 0x | TILLKHANI | F | 3 | Nick Smart |
| 87 | 37×22 | TRAIL BLAZER (NZ) | F | 3 | Robert Priscott |
| 88 | 32×134 | TRUE EXCELSIOR (NZ) | F | 3 | Leon & Troy Corstens |
| 89 | 7×3 | UNION DUES (NZ) | F | 3 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
| 90 | 33×822 | UPTOWN GAL | F | 3 | Robbie Laing |
| 91 | 7116 | WATCHMESPIN | F | 3 | Danny O’Brien |
| 92 | 438 | WILD ABOUT HER | F | 3 | Chris Waller |
