Just 19 three-year-old fillies remain in Crown Oaks 2014 contention this spring including Crafty who is the best fancied of the first declarations for the Melbourne Cup Carnival classic taken today.

Fontein Ruby (in front) and Crafty (outside) are two of Robert Smerdon’s three 2014 Crown Oaks first acceptors. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

There were originally 70 nominations taken for this year’s $1 million Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m), the showdown held at Flemington Racecourse on Thursday November 6 two days after the Melbourne Cup takes centre stage.

There are now only 19 in the mix following the first acceptances with the notable omissions being Thousand Guineas winner Amicus, Spring Champion Stakes runner-up First Seal and the Team Hawkes-trained Edward Manifold Stakes – Ethereal Stakes runner-up Maastricht.

Heading the updated Crown Oaks odds at Ladbrokes.com.au post-first declarations meanwhile is the Robert Smerdon-trained Manhattan Rain filly Crafty.

She pays $3.80 in the futures odds following some nice form this time in.

Two back at Flemington she was third behind her stable mate Fontein Ruby in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) when defeated under half a length before her second to the same filly in last weekend’s Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) the same 0.3 length margin away again.

Smerdon confirmed after the Caulfield Classic his fillies would both be heading towards the Crown Oaks, with a possible run in the $300,000 Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) five days earlier on Victoria Derby Day in the lead-up.

Fontein Ruby then occupies the second line of Crown Oaks betting at Ladbrokes paying $5.50.

Sitting number one on the ballot the Turffontein filly is actually the best fancied of the confirmed first acceptors however with second pick Set Square ($4.80) not yet nominated.

Connections of the Ciaron Maher-trained daughter of Reset however hinted that they might pay the hefty late Crown Oaks entry fee to get her into the race following her impressive two length Listed Ethereal Stakes (2000m) win on Caulfield Cup Day.

Smerdon actually has a trio of Crown Oaks hopes with Fontien Ruby and Crafty joined by Lumosty ($8), the daughter of Fastnet Rock coming off a disappointing eighth in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) from October 11 but tipped to improve over the distance.

There are then two other single figure chances in the current markets with Maher’s confirmed nominee Azkadellia and High Chaparral filly Fenway both at $9.

Other notable Crown Oaks first acceptors include Group 1 Champagne Stakes winner over the Randwick mile from the autumn Go Indy Go ($13), the John O’Shea-trained Abduction ($17) and Ethereal Stakes fourth placegetter Hipster Girl ($17).

See below for the full Crown Oaks 2014 first declarations with the final field due for release on Monday November 3.

In the meantime all the hottest futures spring odds can be found online at Ladbrokes where you can access your winnings in cash seconds after payout with the Ladbrokes.com.au!

2014 Crown Oaks First Acceptances

Flemington Racecourse – 06/11/2014