Racing: Royal Cee Cee favourite in the Oaks

Canterbury trainer-driver Michael House is hoping the draw will give him the edge with Royal Cee Cee in the final of the Southland Oaks at Ascot Park today.

Royal Cee Cee has earned favouritism with wins in a Southland Oaks heat in 1:55.6 for the mile and a heat of the Sires' Stakes series at Forbury Park.

She finished a close second to Aziza in a heat of the Sires' Stakes at Addington last Friday. "She has got the draw and with some of the good ones absent it has opened it for someone. Hopefully, it's us," House said.

Dexter Dunn has the drive on Chicago Blues, a heat winner at Winton.

Clark Barron, who drove her that day, is staying with Sounds Alive, who he drove to win at Gore on Sunday for his Ashburton trainer, brother Ken. Trainers Mark Purdon and Grant Payne, who have won the Southern Supremacy Stakes final for the past two years, will line up Kotare Mach, a prominent candidate for the feature today. Kotare Mach won a mile heat in 1.55.3.

A 30m handicap should not deter Beaudiene Bad Babe in the Country Cups Final.