Oakbank racing preview & best bets | Saturday, April 8

[Wandering Eyes]

What	Oakbank Races
Where	Oakbank Racing Club – 46 Oakwood Rd, Oakbank SA 5243
When	Saturday, April 8, 2023
First Race	12:12pm ACST
Visit Ladbrokes

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The traditional Easter Saturday meeting at Oakbank greets us in South Australia, where a nine-race card is set down for decision. Despite grim weather being forecast earlier in the week, we look set fair for racing on a track around the Good 4 or Soft 5 range, while the rail sticks to the true position throughout. We kick off a massive day of racing at 12:12pm ACST.

Hills Railway Stakes Top Tip: Zennzella

The Listed Hills Railway Stakes over 1100m is the feature event on Saturday, and second-up from a spell we anticipate Gaze Grise will be hard to beat. The five-year-old mare wasn’t beaten all that far over 1000m at Morphettville on March 18 in a race no tougher than this. The big grey had made her run from the rear of the field and loomed as the winner before peaking on her run late. She will be better for that run, and with a smart trial win under her belt here at Oakbank between races, she looks raring to go. She is a winner when second-up in the past, and despite finishing second in this race last year, we expect Gaze Grise to go one better in the 2023 edition of the Hills Railway Stakes.

Hills Railway Stakes

Race 8 – #6 Gaze Grise (3)

5yo Mare | T: David Jolly | J: Kayla Crowther (54kg)

$9.50 with Ladbrokes

Best Bet at Oakbank: Validated

Peter & Belinda Blanch look to have a nice one on their hands in Validated, and we expect the three-year-old will bring up a fourth-straight win. The gelding went out a winner, and in his first two runs back he has been nothing but impressive when registering back-to-back wins at Morphettville. He has only won by the barest of margins on both occasions over 1200m and then 1250m, but we anticipate the step up to 1400m third-up will see him produce a new career peak. With Sheridan Tomlinson on board claiming 3kg, Validated goes around with 57.5kg on his back, which will only aid his ability to settle at the rear of the field and charge over his rivals late on.

Best Bet

Race 3 – #1 Validated (6)

3yo Gelding | T: Peter & Belinda Blanch | J: Sheridan Tomlinson (a3) (60.5kg)

$3 with Unibet

Next Best at Oakbank: Shooting For Stars

We will be looking to finish Easter Saturday in style when Will Clarken & Nikki O’Shea’s Shooting For Stars looks to make an instant impact on South Australian debut. The three-year-old filly bought up two dominant wins in a row at Narrandera during the spring under the eye of Andrew Dale, and considering she has two wins and a minor placing from just three starts, she looks to be a filly with plenty of upside. Ben Price will have her lobbed in a prime spot from barrier three, and based on the fact she has a 4.5-length Oakbank trial victory to her name before this first-up run, Shooting For Stars looks the best way home on Saturday.

Next Best

Race 9 – #9 Shooting For Stars (3)

3yo Filly | T: Will Clarken & Nikki O’Shea | J: Ben Price (a1.5) (55kg)

$4 with Neds

Best Value at Oakbank: Morvada

On his day, the Peter Jolly-trained Morvada would his rivals a galloping lesson, but he is clearly in the twilight of his career now. The nine-year-old gelding gets in perfectly at the weights with Sophie Logan’s 2kg claim allowing him to go around with just 56.5kg on his back in open company. He thrives at 1400m having won seven times and placed on a further 13 occasions at the trip, and if he can control proceedings out in front, he is going to take some catching.

Best Value

Race 7 – #2 Morvada (10)

9yo Gelding | T: Peter Jolly | J: Sophie Logan (a2) (58.5kg)

$11 with Palmerbet

Saturday quaddie tips for Oakbank

Oakbank quadrella selections

Saturday, April 8, 2023

1. 1-3-8
2. 2-4-5-6
3. 1-3-6-8-9-10
4. 5-9

Investment: $144 for 100%

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