A final field of 18 have accepted for Saturday's G1 Oakleigh Plate over 1100m with Mick Price's dual G1-winning 3-year-old Extreme Choice (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) likely to jump the favourite, and while he is unbeaten first-up and also at the track, having won the Blue Diamond on this day twelve months prior, the outstanding colt won't have things all his own way.
A multiple Group 1 placegetter, Fell Swoop (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) will surely once again play his part in the finish, while there is no reason that last year's winner Flamberge (Aus) (Exceed And Excel ({Aus}) who will carry the top weight can't be right in the finish, especially after his narrow fourth a week prior behind Terravista (Aus) (Captain Rio {GB}) in the G1 Lightning S.
Team Hawkes will saddle up 5-year-old Kaepernick (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}} first-up off the back of an encouraging barrier trial effort. With form last campaign behind Group 1 winner Takedown (Aus) (Stratum {Aus}) and last week's Lightning runner-up Spieth (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}), jockey Kerrin McEvoy will need to ride an inspired race from a wide gate.
With four 3-year-olds on the bottom weight of just 50kg's last spring's G1 Myer Classic winner I Am A Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) sticks to the 1100m after her encouraging first-up second in the G2 Rubiton S., while victory to Winx's (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) half-brother El Divino (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) would see the value of the colt skyrocket as a stallion prospect. An interesting runner is the Kris Lees-trained stakes winner Guard Of Honour (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}), a last start G3 runner-up to Man From Uncle (Aus) (Uncle Mo {USA}), with that winner coming out and capturing the G2 Hobartville S. at his next start.
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