Australia: Willowy the up-and-comer in Kennedy Oaks

Less than a month ago, Willowy was a maiden in Australia.

Thursday, she starts as the second choice in her Group 1 debut in the $751,700 Kennedy Oaks at 1 9/16 miles at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

Owned by Godolphin Racing and trained by James Cummings, Willowy won a maiden race at a mile at Newcastle on Oct. 12 in her fourth start, stalking the pace before pulling away by more than 4 3/4lengths.

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By Kermadec, Willowy followed that success with a win in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/4 miles at Flemington last Saturday. This time, Willowy closed from eighth in a field of 11 to win by a half-length over Daisies, another contender in the Kennedy Oaks.

The Kennedy Oaks drew a field of 11, and does not have a clear favorite.

Elusive Express, who may be a slight favorite, won the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes at a mile on Oct. 2 against Yearning, and was second to that rival by a length in the Group 1 Caulfield 1000 Guineas at a mile on Oct. 13. Yearning was fourth in the Wakeful Stakes and is not entered in the Kennedy Oaks.

Elusive Express closed with such interest in her two starts in October that she should be able to handle this longer race.

Daisies has had five starts, all since Sept. 9. She won for the first time in the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/4 miles at Caulfield on Oct. 16, and had her third start of October in the Wakeful. Daisies was sixth in the Manifold Stakes.

Biscayne Bay, a Group 3 stakes winner at seven furlongs at Morphettville in May, was third in the Ethereal Stakes in the longest race of her career. She closed from eighth in a field of 11 to miss by three lengths.

In those races, Biscayne Bay was ridden by John Allen, who is suspended Thursday for careless riding last Saturday in a winning ride on Hitotsu in the Victoria Derby. Hugh Bowman will have the mount on Biscayne Bay, who is winless in her last three starts and must show improvement to be a factor in this race.

Flemington has a nine-race program for the Kennedy Oaks, beginning at 9:40 p.m. Eastern or 6:40 p.m. Pacific on Wednesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.