Legatissimo (Danehill Dancer) faces just 10
rivals as she bids to become only the second filly since 1990 to complete
the One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1)-Oaks (Eng-G1)double at Epsom on Friday, but has
the potentially tricky stall one to overcome to do so.
Ryan Moore faces the
age-old dilemma on Michael Tabor’s Newmarket classic heroine,
with the almost-instant swing to the right meaning that a forwardly
ridden runner might be trapped wide while traffic issues could dog one
settled in behind. Having already won over excess of a mile in Gowran
Park’s listed Victor McCalmont Memorial S. on April 26, and being from the
immediate family of the Ascot Gold Cup winner Fame and Glory (Montjeu), the stamina box is ticked as the bay
lass bids to become the first
Irish-trained filly outside of the Ballydoyle stable to win the Oaks in 24
years.
“A mile is as short as she would ever go,” trainer David Wachman
said at the recent “Breakfast With the Stars” morning at Epsom. “We
have always liked her a lot, but last year she was quite big and tall. She
has definitely got stronger since her win at Newmarket.”
Aidan O’Brien withdrew longtime ante-post favorite Found (Galileo), as expected, and left in the strong trio of Diamondsandrubies
(Fastnet Rock), Together Forever (Galileo) and Qualify (Galileo).
Joseph O’Brien is booked for last year’s Fillies’ Mile (Eng-G1) scorer Together
Forever, who was a highly encouraging second under a
penalty to fellow Oaks contender Star of Seville (Duke of Marmalade) in the May
13 Musidora S. (Eng-G3) at York.
Diamondsandrubies, successful by six
lengths in Chester’s listed Cheshire Oaks last out on May 6, will carry Seamie Heffernan
in the race as she bids to
avenge the defeat of her dam, Quarter Moon (Sadler’s Wells), by
the last Guineas-Oaks heroine Kazzia (Zinaad) in 2002.
She will be the fifth from the immediate family to attempt to win this,
with Quarter Moon’s full sisters Yesterday and All My Loving also
placing second and third in 2003 and 2007, respectively.
“We are very happy with Diamondsandrubies, who put in a good trial at Chester and
likes to be ridden patiently. Together Forever ran a lovely race at
York, as she was a little ring-rusty before the two-pole and then stayed on
so she looks like a filly who will definitely get a mile and a half
well. Qualify ran a very good race (when 10th) in the Irish One Thousand Guineas
([Ire-G1] at The Curragh on May 24) and should improve for a step up in trip. She is in
good form,” Aidan O’Brien said of the trio.
Heffernan partnered Was (Galileo) to success
three years ago and that performer’s 5-million guineas full-sister Al Naamah is the sole French contender this time. Al Shaqab Racing’s
filly was second in her sophomore bow in Saint-Cloud’s Prix Cleopatre (Fr-G3)
going 10 1/2 furlongs on May 13, and it is significant that Andre Fabre
sends her to this race over the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) (Fr-G1).
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