Twenty-five fillies stood their ground for the June 4 Oaks (Eng-G1) at Epsom, run over the same
1 1/2 miles as the Derby (Eng-G1), after Thursday’s latest scratchings deadline.
Heading the market at 9-2 with totesport is RUMOUSH (Rahy). Trained by Marcus
Tregoning, the well-bred bay saw off the colts to land the listed Feilden S. over nine furlongs at Newmarket in April and then stayed on well in the
closing stages to take seventh behind Special Duty (Hennessy) in the One
Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) at the same
course on May 2.
No current trainer can match that of Henry Cecil in the Oaks, and the
master of Warren Place looks to hold an excellent chance of landing a ninth
victory in the classic with totesport’s current 11-2 second favorite AVIATE (Dansili
[GB]), who is unbeaten in three outings and completed her preparation for Epsom
Downs with victory in the Musidora S. (Eng-G3) at York on May 19.
Cecil is also likely to be represented by TIMEPIECE (Zamindar), the 13-2 third favorite
with totesport, who looked unlucky when fourth to Rumoush at Newmarket before
taking second place in the Lingfield Oaks Trial.
Jim Bolger saddled Jet Ski Lady for a shock 50-1 success in the 1991 Oaks and
looks to have a leading protagonist for this year’s classic in AKDARENA
(Hernando [Fr]) (10-1), who prevailed over her elders when storming to a hugely
impressive seven-length victory in the Blue Wind S. (Ire-G3) at Naas on May 12. Bolger could also
run GILE NA GREINE (Galileo [Ire]) (12-1), who caught the eye when staying on to take third in
the One Thousand Guineas.
Gile Na Greine is entered in Sunday’s Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1), as
is the unbeaten TERMAGANT (Powerscourt [GB]) (14-1). Trained by Kevin
Prendergast, Termagant was last seen capturing the Moyglare Stud
S. (Ire-G1) at the Curragh in August.
In total, there are nine Irish-trained entries still engaged in the Oaks,
including half a dozen from the Aidan O’Brien yard.
Owner Julian Richmond-Watson and trainer Ralph Beckett teamed up for success
with Look Here (GB) in the 2008 Oaks, and the same combination is set to run
CEILIDH HOUSE (Selkirk) (12-1) in this year’s Oaks. As with Look Here, Ceilidh House
completed her Epsom Downs preparation in the Lingfield Oaks Trial, where she finished third.
GERTRUDE BELL (Sinndar) (14-1) could bid to follow in the footsteps of 2007 Oaks
heroine Light Shift, having taken the listed Cheshire Oaks on her latest
appearance on May 5. Trained by John Gosden and owned by his wife Rachel Hood, the
daughter of 2000 Derby victor Sinndar had CHAMPAGNELIFESTYLE (Montjeu [Ire]) back in third when
scoring on the Roodee.
Trainer Barry Hills has yet to capture the Oaks during his long
career but has gone very close on occasions, most notably when saddling both
Slightly Dangerous (1982) and Bourbon Girl (1987) to finish second. This year he
is set to run Champagnelifestyle (25-1), a winner over seven
furlongs at Newmarket last season who began this season by finishing third,
beaten a length, by Gertrude Bell.
“She is moving great at the moment and we couldn’t be more pleased with her,”
Charlie Hills, assistant trainer to his father, commented.
“Our filly Acquainted (Shamardal), who was in front of her at Chester, came out and won
nicely yesterday at Haydock and they are both two progressive, lightly-raced
fillies.
“It looks like it will be a very open Investec Oaks this year and you
wouldn’t be afraid of running a filly like Champagnelifestyle in the race. She
stays very well and, while she could possibly do with a bit of rain, the ground
at Epsom is always a very good racing surface.”
The six-day confirmation stage for the Oaks is on May 29,
when there is a £20,000 supplementary entry stage.