Horsebetting.com experts’ tips for the the 2018 Oak Tree Stakes say the progressive Pretty Baby is worth a bet to land the Group 3 contest for red-hot trainer William Haggas. French raider Sequllia is feared most, given powerful connections in the 7f race for fillies’ and mares on Friday, 3 August at Glorious Goodwood. Di Fede is a solid sort who appeals each-way, For full details on these horses, read our in-depth 2018 Oak Tree Stakes betting tips preview.Pretty Baby can strike for in-form Haggas in Oak Tree StakesPretty Baby ran a cracker when runner-up last time out, so looks worth a bet to go one better and resume winning ways in the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes over 7f at Glorious Goodwood on Friday (16:40). The William Haggas trained three-year-old filly went down fighting when beaten just a short-head by Raven’s Lady in the Group 3 Summer Stakes over 6f at York.
She travelled strongly for much of the contest and when headed inside the last dug deep and rallied strongly – only narrowly failing to get back up. It was a gutsy display and one which suggested she would have no problems winnings races at this level. Given the way the daughter of Orpen finished off the race, the extra furlong in this should hold no fears.
Indeed, it may well unlock even further improvement and, prior to that effort, Pretty Baby had been progressing at a rate of knots and looked one to keep firmly onside. After scooting home by five lengths on return to action in a novice stakes contest at Redcar, she then had little difficulty landing a Listed affair at when beating Classical times by 1 3/4 lengths.
Pretty Baby showed plenty of early dash to race prominently and, after being ridden to lead at the furlong marker, ran on strongly to hit the line going away. She only had to be ridden out to get the job done with the minimum of fuss and was value for more than the winning margin, as she finished with plenty of petrol left in the tank.
It was a most taking performance which suggested there was much better to come – a view that was confirmed in the Summer Stakes. With her handler in red-hot form and operating at a strike rate of 34 per cent with his runners in the last fortnight, Pretty Baby has plenty going for her in this and therefore has to be our main selection.French raider Sequilla feared under FrankieAnything sent across the Channel by top French trainer Andre Fabre always commands the utmost respect. His representative in this is Sequilla, who is set to be partnered by Frankie Dettori and has won her last two starts; so, given her unexposed profile, she rates the main danger to Pretty Baby.
After shaping with promise when fourth on debut, this daughter of Siyouni opened her account in good style when scoring by 2 1/2 lengths at Dieppe. She was then pitched into Listed company and showed a good attitude to beat Zonza by a short-neck at Maisons-Lafitte.
As that the runner-up had previously been beaten just 3 1/4 lengths when 11th to Teppal in the French 1000 Guineas, it was a smart performance. Sequllia is clearly going the right way and, having only made her racecourse debut in May, has bags of untapped potential to do much better.
She falls into the “could be anything” category and that makes her very dangerous at this level. The fact that Fabre has decided to target her at this is also very interesting, as he has only ever had three previous runners at the Sussex venue.
Just one of those managed to make the frame, but his strike rate at others courses like Newmarket is superb. Fabre clearly sees this as the right stepping stone en route to hopefully better things, so Sequilla has to feature among our 2018 Oak Tree Stakes betting tips.Di Fede the each-way playThe Ralph Beckett trained Di Fede has posted some really solid efforts this season, including on return to action when beaten just half-a-length into third behind subsequent Group 1 winner Urban Fox on return to action at Ascot. She is going to be hard to keep out of the frame based on that, so therefore gets our each-way vote.
Since then, the daughter of Shamardal has won at Leicester and was far from disgraced when seventh of 23 to Agrotera in the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot. There has also been lots to like about Di Fede’s last two runs in Listed company at Sandown and Ascot.
In the latter over 1m, she went down by just a neck to Clon Cuilis after racing too keenly and had some useful types in-behind. The drop back down to 7f should hold no fears, as Di Fede has won twice and been placed once in four starts over it.
She does have a bit to find on official ratings, but is a tough and consistent sort who looks sure to give it her best shot and looks a key contender on the pick of her form who is overpriced at the odds on offer at the time of writing. We rate Di Fede as each-way value here, then.Your Next Bet
