Oakleigh Plate Tips - Jimmy to Star as the sprinters scorch around Caulfield at Group 1 level in the Oakleigh Plate

The Oakleigh Plate will be held on Saturday February 22 and sees the sprinters scorch around the Caulfield circuit at Group 1 level. 

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It shapes as a fascinating version of the Oakleigh Plate with seven last start winners in the field, while six of the 17 contenders are first up. Estriella is one of the six that are fresh and holds slight favouritism after the barrier draw. 

The Ciaron Maher mare was dominant at the track and trip when first up a year ago then was unlucky in the Moir Stakes (1000m) at her most recent fresh run. She might push across from barrier 9 in an attempt to lead in what should be a hectic tempo up front. She looks well-positioned to extend her strong first-up form (3:2-0-0).

She’s Bulletproof boasts the best last start benchmark figures of any runner, having gone a healthy 11.9 lengths faster than standard when claiming the Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Sandown at her last start. She is pushing for favouritism and was able to do it without cover last time. The Charlotte Littlefield galloper drops to just 52kg in the Oakleigh Plate, giving her a strong chance with Craig Williams aboard.

Rey Magnerio is one of three runners to come out of the Rubiton Stakes and went 6.4 lengths faster than standard. That lower figure came on the back of a slow early tempo and he scorched over the last 400m, breaking 22 seconds to roll Insurrection. The runner-up out of that is slightly better at the weights but will have to work hard early from the draw. Rey Magnerio should enjoy the run of the race from barrier 5. Prairie Flower was 3rd in the Rubiton Stakes

Jimmysstar is another top contender. The Kiwi-bred gelding has a good record at Caulfield and won first-up in the spring. He faces a challenging barrier 14 draw but is well-supported.

Maher has three runners in total, including I Am Me, priced at $12. This six-year-old mare carries the top weight of 57kg and will need to perform well to make history as the first horse to win the Oakleigh Plate with more than 56.5kg since 2016.

Arabian Summer is one of two horses aged three and claimed Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes last start. The filly from the McEvoy stable might need to produce a personal best but is in the hunt with just the 50kg on her back. 

Ashford Street is a sneaky contender and was a last start winner over the 1100m on the Caulfield Heath. He has produced the best benchmark figures that any runner in this race has produced in the past two years when going nearly 17 lengths faster than standard at Caulfield last year. 

Pace should be rock solid in this with Estriella, Insurrection and Golden Boom to head forward, while a host of others will tuck in just behind, including I Am Me and Arabian Summer. Ray Magnerio and She’s Bulletproof are a couple that should end up midfield, while the likes of Jimmystar and Sghhiripa might be further back

It is a typically tough Oakleigh Plate. Jimmystar has an electrifying finish and his best performance came when first up last September at Caulfield over the 1100m when charging home to defeat Ashford Street. Rey Magnerio was 3rd in that race and I would just about have him on top from the kind draw but he is 3kg worse off at the weights. Jimmystar should be suited by the solid tempo and the wide barrier might just be a blessing in disguise. Ethan Brown just needs to land with cover and the pair might be hard to hold out at the business end. 

Ashford Street might be a tier below a number of these but the 52kg brings him right into it under the handicap conditions of the race. His last two runs over the 1100m at Caulfield have been super. One of those was on the inner track, which was his last start when lumping 58kg to victory. The seven-year-old drops 6kg from that. The other was a narrow defeat behind Jimmystar at the course last September. He should enjoy the run of the race from barrier 4 and might be worth something at big odds.