The Oaks

Nine fillies go to post for the Oaks, five from England and four from Ireland.

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The English

The 1000 Guineas winner Desert Flower heads the market, trained by Charlie Appleby and owned by Godolphin, she will have William Buick in the plate. She’s unbeaten in five runs. As a juvenile, victories in a Maiden and Novice Stakes at Newmarket over 7f were followed by the G2 May Hill at Doncaster, and a G1 in the Fillies’ Mile back at Newmarket, both over 1m.

Elwateen, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, will be ridden by Jim Crowley. The Shadwell Estate-owned filly has only raced twice. She won a Novice on debut last year on the All-Weather at Kempton over 7f and this year put in a very nice performance in the 1000 Guineas when a staying fourth to Desert Flower.

Go Go Boots, trained by John and Thady Gosden, will have Oisin Murphy aboard. Owned by American chef Bobby Flay, she’s had the three runs to date, winning twice, a promising debut win on the All-Weather at Lingfield in December over 1m was followed up with an even better performance over 1m2f in April, also on the All-Weather at Lingfield. At York in the Musidora over the same trip, she chased home Whirl when 5¾L back in third.

Oilin Queen goes for the in-form Ed Walker team, she’ll have the benefit of Tom Marquand on her back for the first time. She’s 2 from 5, her best run was the last when taking the Fillies’ Trial at Newbury last time out over 1m2f, where she just prevailed by a short head over Ralph Becket’s filly, Revoir. She’ll be ridden by Hector Couch.

The Irish

Three go from Ballydoyle and one from Owning Hill.

Minnie Hauk is the choice of Ryan Moore and will carry Derek Smith’s colours. Her race record is 2 from 3. She was an expensive filly costing €1.85m. She couldn’t justify favourtism first time out when finishing second but put that right at Leopardstown when breaking her Maiden over 1m on soft. This year, on return to the racecourse, she took the Cheshire Oaks over 1m3½f on good ground at Chester.

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Whirl has the most experience, having had six runs to date; she’s 3 from 6. She’ll run in the Michael Tabor colours under Wayne Lordan. A pair of G3 wins, last year she took Staffordstown Stud Stakes over 1m on soft, the latest being the Musidora Stakes over 1m2f where she was a ready winner. It put her firmly in the picture for this.

Giselle will wear the Peter Brant colours and be ridden by Colin Keane. She’s 2 from 4, a Maiden winner over 7f on good at the Curragh second time out, she was third to Whirl in the Staffordstown Stud Stakes last October. This year she won the Lingfield Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes over 1m3½f by 9L, returned at 30/100F. She only beat a pair, and the second let the form down, being well beaten in Handicap company since.

Wemightakedlongway, trained by Joseph O’Brien, in the ownership of Cayton Park Stud, will have Dylan Browne McGonagle in the plate. Her race record is 2 from 5. She won her Maiden over 1m at Cork last October, beating Minne Hauk (who was making her debut), and was a nice winner of the Salsabil Stakes over 1m2f at Navan in April on soft ground.

Summing Up

The question, as ever, for Epsom. Will she stay?

Of the English, Desert Flower has by far the best form coming into this; however, there is a question mark over her ability to see out the trip. Her breeding suggests a mile and there has to be concern in the Godolphin camp about the extra 4f. Visually, Elwateen looks more like a stayer. Oilin Queen does look like she’ll see it out however, her form isn’t strong enough, and Revoir may well turn over the Newbury run. Go Go Boots has a good bit to find with Whirl.

Of the Irish, firstly, the Ballydoyle trio, there’s not a lot between them, it must have been a tough choice for Ryan. Minnie Hauk has the most potential. Whirl’s form is better, but there’s not a lot between her and Giselle, who went off 4/5f when the pair met last October. He’s most likely got it right, backing potential, however, it is Joseph’s filly, Wemightakedlongway, who could throw up a surprise.

Her win at Navan was dominant, and there’s a chance of rain before the race. She’s by Australia, so should get the trip, and she’s got the better of Minnie Hauk at Cork last year.

Recommendation

Wemightakedlongway 16/1 ew

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