Saturday's G1 Oakleigh Plate gives sprinters the chance to shine under handicap conditions, leaving the door wide open for horses to sneak into the winner's circle under low weights. One who fits that profile is race favourite Keen Array (Aus) (Bel Esprit {Aus}), a lightly raced 3-year-old gelding who has been out of the top two just twice in eight starts. Keen Array recorded a career-best victory in last term's Listed Blue Sapphire S., and handled a big class jump with aplomb to finish second in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. when last seen Oct. 31. He carries just 110 pounds here and also fared well at the draw, landing in barrier four.
Like last year, when Shamal Wind (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}) was victorious, the race could easily fall to a female, with classy mares like Bounding (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) and Heatherly (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) lining up. New Zealand Group 1 winner Bounding returned from a near 10-month layoff to take the G3 Theshark.com.au S. over this track and trip in August, but hasn't been seen since finishing third in Rosehill's G3 Sheraco S. Sept. 12. She can clearly win first-up, though, and has the benefit of two trials going into this. Heatherly won the G2 Rubiton S. over this track and trip two weeks ago in her first start in group company, beating Group 1 winner Politeness and the talented Lake Geneva (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and, like Keen Array, she shoulders just 110 pounds.
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