Oakwood Lady looks ideally suited in the final event of the afternoon at Cessnock on Thursday.
The Scott Singleton-trained mare contests the Cessnock Leagues Club Class 3 Handicap (1150m) on Thursday where sits perfectly poised just above the limit weight.
One of her main rivals in Archibald compresses the weights of the Class 3 Handicap to round out proceedings at Cessnock on Thursday where Oakwood Lady is a genuine player.
The daughter of California Dane goes into the contest second run from a spell after a solid fourth on resuming at Taree.
She stuck to her task well on that occasion and would have taken benefit from the run.
Second up, out to 1150m, from an inside barrier and the 1.5kg claim of apprentice Rachel King, Oakwood Lady has to be respected.
Making her an even more appealing prospect is the fact she is quoted at near each way odds as of Thursday morning.
From barrier 2, Rachel King will have the mare prominent, perhaps settled outside of anticipated leader One More Knight.
With an anticipated ideal run in transit, the pair could prove hard to hold out.
The current favourite for the event is the Paul Perry-trained Archibald.
Archibald was a winner at Scone two back before running on strongly for a second at Gosford over 1000m last start.
This is an easier contest and is capable of returning to the winner’s circle.
Stick with the class horses at the top of the weights with Shalama the next elect.
The gelding beat Oakwood Lady by two lengths when second at Taree last start which came off a 42 day freshen up.
He can improve off the run but overall, Oakwood Lady looks to bring more upside into this contest.
Lasszou shapes as the best of the rest after running second at Taree.
That being said, he comes in poorly at the weights and is eligible for substantially easier.
Oakwood Lady ticks all the right boxes for a runner currently quoted at each way odds and for that reason, is worth plenty of thought in the final event of the afternoon at Cessnock on Thursday.
