Epsom Oaks Runners - All Nine Confirmations Declared for Fillies' Classic

All nine fillies confirmed for the 2025 Epsom Oaks have been declared for the 247th running of the historic Classic, on Friday, 6th June. However, it could still be a running for the record books of the centuries old contest, with 1000 Guineas heroine Desert Flower headlining the field.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, Desert Flower is unbeaten in her five-race career to date. She has been increasingly impressive as she has stepped up through Group race company, storming to success in last year’s Group 1 Fillies’ Mile before her supreme return in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. The chestnut daughter of Night Of Thunder brings easily the classiest form and will be the one to beat if seeing out this new 1m4f trip.

Her chief opponents are a triumvirate representing Aidan O’Brien, though the first string among those is difficult to determine. Giselle won the Lingfield Oaks Trial by nine lengths, but only in a three-runner field, while Whirl stepped up impressively on her previous form to win York’s Musidora Stakes comfortably. The very well-bred Minnie Hauk is also likely to line up after landing the Listed Cheshire Oaks at Chester, with Aidan O’Brien hinting she will be the mount of Ryan Moore.

Both Wemightakedlongway and Qilin Queen claimed trials in their respective home countries, with the former looking a soft ground specialist for Joseph O’Brien. The latter held on in Listed company at Newbury from Revoir, who will represent Ralph Beckett. Go Go Boots is set to be the only runner for the Gosdens, so while she appears an outsider on form, her yard have won three of the last eight runnings.

A supplementary entry was also made for the race in the shape of Elwateen. An unusual Shadwell-owned runner for the usually Godolphin subscribed Saeed bin Suroor, the 1000 Guineas fourth has two Group 1-winning parents and looks a likely enough stayer of this 1m4f distance.

2025 Epsom Oaks Runners