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The fillies take centre stage at Flemington this Thursday for the traditional running of the Kennedy Oaks over 2500m.
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The Group 1 staying feature is the headline on Day 3 of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, and there's a genuine case to be made for several runners with Flight Stakes winner Tropical Squall squaring off against Wakeful Stakes winner Amazonian Lass and runner-up, Zardozi.
Which three-year-old will join the likes of Light Fingers, Miss Finland, and Mosheen on the honour roll?
Check out our thoughts on every runner in this year's Oaks field below!
2023 Kennedy Oaks Betting Strategy
1 Unit Zardozi
1 Unit Basilinna EW
Boxed Trifecta: 2, 7, 8
1. Tropical Squall (3)
Led all the way to win the Flight Stakes at Randwick two back where she had everything go her way out to the mile off a nice soft tempo.
It was an impressive win, but it's hard to say she beat much given how shaky that form has looked since.
Adam Hyeronimus adopted similar tactics out to 2000m in the Ethereal Stakes a couple of weeks ago at Caulfield where she was installed a very short favourite. I thought she saw out the trip nicely, but I do think that run poses more questions given it was back in grade.
From the low gate, she'll roll forward again and look to dictate, but I think she's gone up a little on the short side.
2. Zardozi (6)
Promising filly that should be hard fit now for five runs back.
The daughter of Kingman was an impressive winner of the Edward Manifold two back at Flemington, given a cozy ride along the rail in the early stages before shifting out down the straight to go on and win by 1.5 lengths.
She was nearly a month between runs in the Wakeful on Saturday, taken further back under James McDonald and just missing out behind Amazonian Lash in a mad dash for the line.
If she's ridden a little more positively on this occasion from a much better gate, I think she'll be very hard to beat.
3. Amazonian Lass (13)
Winner of the Wakeful last week thanks to a 10/10 steer from Tim Clark up on the speed.
Off a four-week break, the daughter of Better Than Ready was fast away and too far ahead for Zardozi to catch, an encouraging effort getting out to 2500m now on the short backup.
Given she was on fresh legs that day, she should have some petrol left in the tank for this, and we'll likely see similar a similar forward showing from another tricky gate.
4. Served Cold (11)
Put away a small field in the Geelong Classic a couple of weeks ago where she seemingly had plenty left to give.
Blake Shinn rode her perfectly that day off the speed, settling midfield and stalking the pace into the turn before letting the filly work through her gears to record an impressive win.
This is tougher, but she does have scope for improvement considering she was a month between runs that day. Shinn stricks, and providing the track is still dry, she could sneak into the money.
5. Harlow Mist (9)
This Sydney-based filly has hardly put a foot wrong in five starts to date.
Out of the John Sargent yard, the daughter of Contributer was unbeaten in three starts to begin her career, and more recently has gone on to run third behind Amazonian Lass and Zardozi in the Wakeful.
She looked to have every chance down the straight on Saturday but was hit on the nose by another rider at the 200m mark, so she's probably worth forgiving.
Michael Dee has had success aboard previously and another place really wouldn't surprise.
6. Coco Sun (7)
Coco Sun has failed to produce the same effort that saw her win a Stakes race at Morphettville earlier in April.
She was four wide and weakened badly in the Ethereal two back, and while it was a more improved effort, she was never really a threat in the Wakeful on Saturday either.
Based on what we've seen, she's tough to entertain.
7. Basilinna (2)
This filly by three-time Group 1 runner-up Staphanos could be one to watch at odds.
She broke her maiden in weaker company at Cranbourne back in September, and was arguably the run of the race in the Ethereal at Caulfield a few weeks ago when storming into the frame late to grab third.
She came from a long way back after over-racing early on, clocking a pretty slick split between the 400-200m mark.
Drawn well, out over further, and with five-time Oaks winner Damien Oliver engaged, I think she's a great each-way bet.
8. Aetheflaed
She continues to fly under the radar this filly.
Matthew Smith's three-year-old caused an upset when winning her maiden at Kembla Grange two back, winding up with a big run from the tail to storm 1.3 lengths clear down the outside.
She nearly replicated that performance in the Wakeful last time out, settling last into the turn before working into the clear to run fourth – clocking a handy final 200m split in the process.
She just laid in a little down the straight, so if she's more composed, I think there's a real case to be made for her under Mark Zahra.
9. Wings Of Song (14)
Patrick Payne's filly has been super honest this prep, albeit against weaker company.
She gave good chase at Benalla last week for second but was safely held the start prior in the Ethereal.
Facing a big step up in grade, she's unlikely to threaten.
10. Ethel Maude (10)
By Smart Missile, this filly brokethrough for a well-deserved maiden win at Pakenham a few weeks ago coming off a decent run in the Edward Manifold where she landed midfield.
She's got some upside, but she'd need to improve sharply to be a factor.
11. Peaky Ridge (8)
On a quick backup after winning her maiden at the 'Bool last Thursday.
This is much tougher.
12. Vieste (5)
Won her maiden by the barest of margins three back at Newcastle and has been last to greet the judge in her past two attempts.
13. Another You (1)
Five start maiden that finished only fairly in the Ethereal a few weeks ago.
Hard to have.
14. Everlasting Kiss (4)
Still searching for her first win and based on her efforts in the Ethereal, it's unlikely to come here.
