Racing
31/05 Epsom Preview: Anapurna and Frankellina could contest a wide-open Oaks
Two days of top draw racing action at Epsom’s Derby Festival lie ahead. First up is Ladies’ Day with the feature race, The Oaks, starting at 16:30.
Our resident racing expert has delivered his verdict on the first six races of the stacked card, with a view to tackling the Boosted £10,000 Place 6 pool.
14:00
The opening race on Oaks day involves a host of first-time winners and horses with a great deal more to offer.
Pintaubo won cosily on debut at Wolverhampton from a fellow Godolphin newcomer and is likely to be popular for the 2018 Derby-winning trainer Charlie Appleby.
However, it may be worth siding with Mister Grey for Mark Johnston. He improved on his debut, a second place at Salisbury, to win in a Ripon novices’ event last time. There’s plenty of improvement still to come and on good ground again, that run stands him in good stead here.
Rayong is also a potential improver, having won the same Carlisle novice event on debut that Cosmic Law took last year en route to winning this race. He is taken to follow Mister Grey home.
Selections: Mister Grey, Rayong
14:35
The Investec Mile, much like the Investec Dash on Saturday, is always tricky and this year’s renewal looks no different.
I think the key piece of form here is the Hambleton Handicap at York two weeks ago. Hayadh finished third that day and looks interesting here off an unchanged mark of 91. He had a few of today’s rivals in behind that day on similar ground and I think he has the potential to go well again.
Firmanent has been raised 1lb for finishing a neck in front of Hayadh and that form should come to the fore here. A horse who is very consistent in mile handicaps, he might be in the frame again.
Selections: Hayadh, Firmanent
15:10
The first Group 1 race of the day is a mouth-watering clash between Kew Gardens, Old Persian and Lah Ti Dar.
Kew Gardens won the St. Leger last season before finishing a respectable seventh in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. He was disappointing when finishing behind Morando in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester but the soft ground may have been a factor and he wont have that problem on Friday.
Lah Ti Dar finished 2l behind Kew Gardens in the St. Leger but is a filly John Gosden has always thought the world of. She scampered home in the Middleton at York over an inadequate trip and should improve as a result.
Old Persian took his form to new heights with a comfortable success in the Sheema Classic at Meydan on World Cup night. He is a serious contender.
You sense that Lah Ti Dar has yet to reach the peak of her powers, whereas there is concern that Kew Gardens may take a while to wind up after a busy campaign last season. I expect Lah Ti Dar will have too much for Kew Gardens and would be sceptical of the Meydan form of Old Persian. He did not have the stamina for 1m6f in the St. Leger last season, whereas his two market rivals have plenty, having occupied the top two spots in the Doncaster Classic. If it becomes a test of stamina it won’t suit Old Persian.
Salouen appears to have been overlooked and could fill the runners-up spot. He ran a terrific race when sixth in the Arc and warmed up for today with a facile success at Ascot this month. Superstar Cracksman was almost slain by Salouen in the Coronation Cup last season and anything like that sort of form could be enough here.
Selections: Lah Ti Dar, Salouen
15:45
It’s difficult to look past Elector here. Sir Michael Stoute’s red hot form shows no signs of slowing down and Elector has only been raised 2lb from his Spring Lodge victory on 2000 Guineas day at Newmarket.
He has finished behind a raft of good horses in the past too, including Lincoln winner Auxerre and dual Group 1 winner Old Persian. Ryan Moore takes the ride and he is the solo selection in this race.
Selection: Elector
16:30
The second British Fillies Classic of the season and it looks wide open. Mehdaayih shot to the head of the market when winning the Cheshire Oaks at the start of the month but I’m not convinced about the strength of the opposition that day. Though she won on good to firm last October, I think she’d prefer it softer.
Fresh from winning his second 1000 Guineas of the season with Hermosa last Sunday, Aidan O’Brien fields Pink Dogwood, who was fifth in the Prix Marcel Boussac last season before winning at Naas last month. However, the race turned into a sprint at the 3f pole and she didn’t scream Oaks winner on that performance. O’Brien’s horses always come on stacks for the run though and she’s not to be dismissed lightly.
There are two fillies that have impressed me this season and the first of those is Anapurna. She’s a filly who only made her turf debut this month but was super impressive when bolting up in the Lingfield Oaks Trial. It took a while for the penny to drop but, when Frankie Dettori asked her to stretch, she did just that, eventually winning by six lengths. The ground was soft that day but she’ll have learnt loads from the race and, if she takes to the better ground at Epsom, she will be there at the business end of the race. The fact that Dettori has chosen Anapurna over Medaayih gives further confidence.
The other interesting contender is Frankellina. Two weeks ago in the Musidora, she lost three lengths at the start before making rapid headway 2f out to dead heat for second behind Nausha. William Haggas has been deliberating ever since about whether to bide his time with her or take a chance. However, he announced on Wednesday that he will race her after being impressed with her work at Newmarket.
She will need to become more streetwise at the start of races but the Musidora run gave encouragement that this daughter of Frankel, running in the silks of 2015 Derby winner Golden Horn, will relish the extra furlong and a half at Epsom. She too could fly home late to snatch Oaks glory.
Selections: Anapurna, Frankellina
17:15
Happy Power and Vintage Brut are two who won’t be amused with the carpet-like surface they will face on Friday and, with minimal rain forecast, can be dismissed.
Angel’s Hideaway has had plenty of chances whilst Marie’s Diamond was unplaced in the German 2000 Guineas on her most recent run.
It took Space Blues three attempts to get off the mark but, when he did, he did so in authoritative fashion during the Dante Festival at York.
Although it didn’t look the deepest of races, Space Blues appears to be a horse who will start to kick on after finally getting his head in front. The good ground will suit and he can strike again for James Doyle.
Selection: Space Blues
