The Oaks (G1) and The Derby (G1)
July 4, 2020
The Oaks
Love comes here after winning the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in impressive style, she’ll try to collect an eighth Oaks for trainer, Aidan O’Brien.
She was a slow starter in her career having failed in two maidens in her first two runs.
She then made it third time lucky at Leopardstown in early July last year taking her maiden with subsequent Coronation Stakes winner Alpine Star back in third.
Two weeks later we knew she was a good filly, let go off at 8/1 she won the G3 Silver Flash Stakes at the same track.
She went off 6/4 favourite on the back of that for the G2 Debutante Stakes at the Curragh in August but failed to shine, then she bounced back in no uncertain terms taking the G 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes again at the Curragh in mid-September.
A trip to Newmarket followed in October for the G1 Fillies Mile where she ran third to Quadrilateral.
This year she returned to Newmarket for the Guineas where she overturned the form with Quadrilateral quicking away in the style of a horse that suggested a step up in trip would be tailor-made.
She’s the choice of Ryan Moore and a worthy favourite.
The Derby
Aidan’s also going for an eighth Derby.
Mogul heads the Ballydoyle challenge and is the choice of Ryan Moore.
Mogul has always been held in high esteem at Ballydoyle, beaten on debut at Gowran Park, he went on to take a Curragh maiden next time out.
He was then sent to Leopardstown over Irish Champions Weekend for the G2 Juvenile Stakes, a race Austrailia won before going on to Epsom glory, he won stylishly from Sinawaan who gave the form a nice boost when winning the G3 Amethyst Stakes on Wednesday at Leopardstown.
He was stepped up in trip for the G1 Vertem Futurity, rerouted from Doncaster to Newcastle’s All-Weather track, he went down 3¾L to Kameko, the 2000 Guineas winner and the second favourite here.
A return to action at Royal Ascot for the King Edward VII Stakes shaped well, it mightn’t have looked great, only fourth, it was the run that was required and Ryan was very easy on him, there’s every chance he’ll have come on a ton for it.
Aidan is as usual mob handed with six in the field.
If there is to be a surprise then it might come from Amhran Na Bhfiann, well-spoken of, he’s only twice raced, not inspiring in either, beaten in both, it’s the name that catches the eye. Amhran Na Bhfiann is Irish for “The Soldier’s Song” and is the Irish national anthem.
He was nowhere in a maiden last August behind Sinawaan. In his second run in June, again in a maiden, he was a much improved fourth, only tiring in the last furlong he was beaten by three stable companions, Tiger Moth, Dawn Patrol and Order Of Australia, that trio then finishing second, third and fourth behind Santigo in last weeks Irish Derby. Like Mogul he’ll come on a ton for the run.
Names like Amhran Na Bhfiann tend to kept in the top drawer in Ballydoyle, usually for the top drawer ones, his full sister, Was only had the two runs behind her before she went on to win the Oaks in 2012 at a price of 20/1, not quite the price of Qualify who won the Oaks in 2015 at 50/1 or Wings Of Eagles when he won the Derby in 2017 at 40/1.
Surprises happen at Epsom, trained by Aidan O’Brien, why are we all surprised.
Recommendations
The Oaks
Love 5/4 win
The Derby
Mogul 15/2 win
Amhran Na Bhfiann 100/1 ew
