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15 fillies set for Epsom Oaks3rd June 2010
The Investec Epsom Oaks attracted a field of 15 three-year-old fillies, but a clear favourite has yet to emerge for Friday’s classic.
Two of the race’s top contenders are trained by Henry Cecil, who certainly knows something about winning the 1½-mile race, having previously saddled eight winners. This year, he sends out two Juddmonte Farms homebreds in Aviate, winner by a head in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes on May 15 at York to be perfect in three career starts, and Timepiece, a stakes winner last season, who finished second in the Oaks Trial Stakes on May 8 at Lingfield Park.
On Wednesday after the barrier draw, Aviate, a Dansili filly, led the market at 9-2, and Timepiece, a Zamindar filly, was co-third choice at 6-1. Should either win, Cecil would be the second most successful trainer in Oaks history behind Robert Robson, who trained a dozen winners between 1802 and 1825.
Marcus Tregoning, who won the 2006 Vodafone Epsom Derby with Sir Percy, sends out Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum’s homebred Rumoush, who is the 5-1 second favourite. She defeated males in the Feilden Stakes on April 14 at Newmarket in April prior to a seventh-place finish in the One Thousand Guineas at Newmarket.
Aidan O’Brien is seeking a fourth Oaks victory and will be represented in this year’s edition of the race with Awe Inspiring (25-1), Cabaret (33-1), and Remember When (8-1).
Stable jockey Johnny Murtagh has opted to ride the maiden Remember When, who finished fourth in the Etihad Ariways Irish One Thousand Guineas on May 23 at the Curragh. The Danehill Dancer filly is a three-quarter sister to 2007 European Horse of the Year Dylan Thomas.
Also on the card, last year’s Oaks winner, Sariska, will meet Fame And Glory, runner-up to European Horse of the Year Sea The Stars in last year’s Investec Epsom Derby and Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes, in the Investec Coronation Cup Stakes.
Sariska won her season debut in the Middleton Stakes on May 13 at York and is the 9-4 second choice. Fame And Glory, winner of the last year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, has won two of three starts this year, including the Tattersalls Gold Cup on May 23.
