Great depth in Oaks field

One of the harness racing highlights for us at Menangle on Sunday's Inter Dominion Final day will be this years New South Wales Oaks which has drawn a really smart group of three year old fillies together.

Form 700 New South Wales Oaks.

1) Delight Me – Starts 7 – Wins 6 – Seconds 1  –  Stakes $45,338

Already a big player before the draw, Delight Me is now the equal favourite in our view after drawing barrier one.

Won her heat in the quickest time of the four held on Saturday night but did wander about a bit when clear in the last 100 metres which she won't want to do in the final

Gavin Lang is a big plus on any horse and hard to see Delight Me anything but first or second on Sunday.

2) Rebel Diamond – Starts 16 – Wins 5 – Seconds 3 – Thirds 1  –  Stakes $49,930

The surprise package of the heats coming from barrier nine for a great second to Delightful Lana in good time.

Hard to see her beating two or three here but the draw and Anthony Butt make her a realistic first four player.

3) Whitershadeofpale – Starts 7 – Wins 4 – Seconds 0 – Thirds – 1  –  Stakes $22,775 (Emerg 1)

Nice enough run in her heat on Saturday where she followed Dexter and Delightful Lana but didn't do enough for us to make her a real player if she did get manage to get back into the field.

Not for us

4) Lovelist – Starts – 11 – Wins 6 – Seconds 0 – Thirds 2  –  Stakes $52,922

One of the best runs in the heats in our opinion when she drew wide and worked to the death in the heat against Fight For Glory and only got beaten by Read About Lexy for second in the last ten metres.

Has had her runs spaced out this season and should have derived some real benefit from last Saturdays run.

Comes into barrier three and why it is hard to see her winning, she is a real first four chance. 

5) BB's Inspiration – Starts 8 – Wins 2 – Seconds 0 – Thirds 2  –  Stakes $13,251

Sat four back on the inner in her heat and did run on well but she was in by far the slowest heat of the four run on the night.

If she did make it back into the field it is hard to see her playing a major part in proceedings.

Not for us 

6) Makes Every Scents – Starts 12 – Wins 6 – Seconds 3 – Thirds 1  –  Stakes $101,240

Used from barrier 7 to lead on Saturday night but then threw out the anchors in front in what turned out to be the slowest heat of the four run.

Sprinted home well but out on her feet the last bit and query about strength of heat.

Tactial speed an advantage but appeals as a first four chance to us rather than a winning chance.

7) Butterfly Princess – Starts 23 – Wins 4 – Seconds 3 – Thirds 4  –  Stakes $36,655

Showed speed to lead from barrier six, set a sharp pace and then fought on well after appearing gone on the corner.

She did set up the fastest heat of the four on the night but had a really hard run in the process.

We think that it was her grand final performance just making it out of the heats.

Not for us.

8) Smooth Showgirl – Starts 14 – Wins 3 – Seconds 3 – Thirds 1  –  Stakes $88,307

In her heat she dropped back to last from barrier nine and was still last at the 800 metres mark.

She then got a lovely drag into the race via the three wide line and did finish the race off really well.

Can't afford to get so far back this week as they won't come back to her like they did last week.

Can't win on last weeks run but outside first four chance if she can stay handier.

9) Du Vella – Starts 12 – Wins 4 – Seconds 2 – Thirds 2  –  Stakes $28,634

Big push for this filly from some pundits but we have yet to be fully convinced.

She got a beautiful run  in her heat which was the weakest of the four in our opinion and even though the leader threw out the anchor at the 100 metres, Du Vella still only ran second.

Two places further out this week at the barrier in a much stronger field means we can't see her winning this and only have her as a first four chance.

10) Delightful Lana – Starts 16 – Wins 8 – Seconds 2 – Thirds 2  –  Stakes $101,724

Smart win in her heat but up against it from the draw this weekend but not completely out of it in our view.

In her favour is the fact she can do work and still run those big sectionals at the end.

Yet to be out of the money in ten starts at three in very strong fields so definite quinella and trifecta chance especially with one Dexter Dunn in the bike.

11) Fight For Glory – Starts 15 – Wins 6 – Seconds 6 – Thirds 0  –  Stakes $217,317

Was the most impressive heat winner by a margin in our opinion but the draw has evened up the contest with Delight Me.

Fight For Glory ran home in 54.9 on Saturday night and Natalie didn't even pull the ear plus or the sliding blinds so you would think there was still plenty in the tank.

Appears to be right in the zone at the moment and has an all round game so the draw while bad won't stop her being super competitive.

12) Read About Lexy – Starts 17 – Wins 7 – Seconds 5 – Thirds 4  –  Stakes $103,795

Not to sure what to make of her heat run, even now.

Got a lovely run last Saturday and was well beaten by Fight For Glory but did fight doggedly for second.

Take Fight For Glory out and she went fine so we think she is still a place prospect.

Has only finished out of the first three once in seventeen starts so even from the ten hole has to be a first four player

Selections

A two horse war for us with Delight Me and Fight For Glory the two we couldn't separate.

If anyone else is going to spoil the party and split these two in our view it will be Delightful Lana and after that there is a swag who you should consider for trifectas and first fours.

We would include Rebel Diamond, Lovelist, Makes Every Scents, Du Vella and Read About Lexy

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