Oaks preview
John Anthony looks at the great fillies race at Epsom
SANTA BARBARA
(Aidan O’Brien) She came into this season with a big reputation on the back of winning a big-field Curragh maiden in September. Despite drifting in the market, she went off joint favourite for the 1,000 Guineas and put in a decent effort when finishing a close-up fourth. She looked green again and will come on massively for the experience. Staying looks likely to be her game and the longer trip at Epsom makes her a worthy favourite. Handling Epsom could be an issue but her sire Camelot coped well enough when winning the 2012 Derby.
SNOWFALL
(Aidan O’Brien)
This Deep Impact filly took a huge step forward when beating a couple of nice prospects in Noon Star and Teona out of sight in the Musidora at York on
May 12. Staying is clearly her game but things did go her way unchallenged in front and the winning time didn’t set pulses racing. Odds of around 4-1 look short enough and I’d clearly favour Santa Barbara of the Ballydoyle big two.
ZEYAADAH
(Roger Varian)
It was kick the cat time at Chester as Jim Crowley was forced to sit and suffer when full of running in the Cheshire Oaks. Dubai Fountain had flown by the time she got in the clear but she stayed on well for second. She clearly likes some cut in the ground but, being boxed in aside, handled the
Roodee well enough so Epsom should be fine. She looks the type to improve again and, provided the ground isn’t rattling fast, prices around 8-1 could be a little generous.
TEONA
(Roger Varian)
She cruised to victory in a Newcastle all-weather maiden over 1m2f on comeback in April before a solid third in the Musidora at York behind Snowfall when still looking short on experience. It requires a leap of faith to think she can improve enough to win an Oaks but she is a Group winner in waiting.
DUBAI FOUNTAIN
(Mark Johnston)
Mark Johnston’s game filly took full advantage of Zeyaadah’s traffic problems when winning the Cheshire Oaks with a length to spare. She keeps it simple from the front and deserves her place in the line-up but is unlikely to hold off the challengers this time — a clear run permitting for them.
NOON STAR
(Sir Michael Stoute) This daughter of Galileo went into the Musidora at York as a well-backed favourite after a fast-time maiden win at Wetherby. She ran no better than alright in third and had no excuses when failing to pick up in the closing stages. The extra distance of the Oaks should suit but she needs to improve markedly to land a Classic.
SAFFRON BEACH
(Jane Chapple-Hyam)
She showed promise at two when winning the Group 3 Oh So Sharp at Newmarket and underlined her potential with a length second in the 1,000 Guineas back on the Rowley Mile. Breeding suggests 1m2f may be her limit and connections are far from sure about running her at Epsom.
SEA EMPRESS
(William Haggas) This daughter of Sea The Stars created a big impression when winning on debut at Newcastle in October ahead of Teona who has franked the form. She was sent off favourite for the Newbury Trial in May where she was much too keen and green in the early stages. She is capable of much more than that and will be a lot closer at Epsom although that will be just her third run and the track won’t be easy to handle.
SHALE
(Donnacha O’Brien)
She took the Group 1 Moyglare last season before not seeming to stay in the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket. Her comeback run in the 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown was only modest and this hike in distance needs to work wonders which doesn’t seem too likely.
SHERBET LEMON
(Archie Watson) Archie Watson’s filly caused an upset when taking the Lingfield Oaks Trial at 28-1 but the others had no excuses and she appears to have improved for her
modest comeback at Wetherby. The time of that Listed contest wasn’t great though so more is needed. Handling Lingfield bodes well for Epsom which enhances her place claims.
SNOW LANTERN
(Richard Hannon)
The bookies can’t make their mind up about Richard Hannon’s Frankel filly. She was impressive in winning a Newbury maiden in April but took a step backwards when five lengths off the pace in a York Listed contest. Prices range from 16 to 33-1 with the higher number probably the most accurate.
TECHNIQUE
(Martyn Meade)
She has been beaten in a couple of Listed races but the plus side comes from her second to Wirko over 1m2f here in April. She handled the track well and soft ground could have been the excuse at Lingfield last time. The time of her Epsom run was decent and she is one of the more realistic big prices.
OCEAN ROAD
(Hugo Palmer)
She clocked a big personal best when third in the Lingfield Oaks Trial last time. She was less than two lengths off the pace and saw out the trip well. She looks short of Classic level but should be taking a group-class race soon.
WILLOW
(Aidan O’Brien)
Doesn’t look one of the leading lights at Ballydoyle and was well beaten in a Naas Group 3 last time when not getting home over 1m2f. Goes from the front so may be used as a pacemaker.
LA JOCONDE
(Aidan O’Brien)
This Frankel filly is still a maiden after six starts and pulled when fourth in the Cheshire Oaks. The extended 1m3f around Chester seemed a bit too far but she was backed so must have been showing something at home.
TWISTED REALITY
(Ralph Beckett)
She was impressive in winner a Nottingham maiden in November and was entitled to need her comeback when fourth in the Newbury trial. This sort of trip should be ideal and there is a lot more to come. This is a big gap to bridge but she’s worth watching for another day.
DIVINELY
(Aidan O’Brien)
This daughter of Galileo won a Group 3 over a mile in the mud last season and wasn’t beaten far in the Lingfield Oaks Trial on comeback. She will have needed that and has no stamina issues. She looks a fair bit short of this level though.
A’SHAARI
(Charlie Appleby)
She won a Newmarket maiden in August but has been well beaten on both outings this season including when 20 lengths off the pace in the Newbury trial. Can’t be recommended on that form.
VERDICT: ZEYAADAH showed enough when an unlucky second in the Cheshire Oaks to make her a real contender. There was lots left in the tank on the Roodee and improvement to come on just her fourth run. Santa Barbara is a worthy favourite after a good run in the 1,000
Guineas where the trip was too short. Sherbet Lemon took the Lingfield Oaks Trial in determined fashion and has a live each-way chance.