A field of 12 runners are set to line up for the 2024 Betfred Oaks at Epsom Downs on Friday and our man Steve Chambers previews the fillies’ Classic here. Check out his selection for the race, as he takes on the Aidan O’Brien-trained contenders with a fast-improving performer…
YLANG YLANG
(Ryan Moore/Aidan O’Brien)
A superb half-a-length winner of the Fillies’ Mile at the end of last season, Ylang Ylang was well fancied to go close in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Aidan O’Brien’s starlet was unable to quicken like some of her rivals that day over the mile, but was staying on eye-catchingly well in the closing stages to finish fifth and she’s one that will relish the step up in trip to 1m 4f 6y for the Oaks. The daughter of Frankel was well supported in the betting following her Guineas outing and if she can continue on an upward curve for a trainer that has won this race 10 times before.
EZELIYA
(Chris Hayes/Dermot Weld)
Dermot Weld last claimed Oaks glory way back in 1981 when Free Wind was victorious, but the master of Rosewell House has a lively contender in the 2024 renewal in the shape of Ezeliya, who was a fine winner of the Group 3 Salsabil Stakes at Navan last time out. Another that should thrive over this mile-and-a-half Oaks trip, the daughter of Dubawi was doing all her best work in the closing stages of that race in Ireland and she is entitled to improve again for the step up from 1m 2f.
RUBIES ARE RED
(Wayne Lordan/Aidan O’Brien)
Still winless after three starts, Rubies Are Red is a pretty short price with the bookmakers to break her duck in the biggest race of all. A taking second to You Got To Me in the Lingfield Oaks Trial a few weeks ago launched her into the Oaks reckoning as she was storming home that day and shaped like she could need further in time. The daughter of Galileo has questions to answer as she takes on proven winners, but Aidan O’Brien is sure to bring about some improvement from that day and she is a fascinating runner.
FOREST FAIRY
(Rossa Ryan/Ralph Beckett)
Not seen on the track as a juvenile, Forest Fairy will have to deal with some notable inexperience, but the manner in which she won by six lengths on debut at Wolverhampton in February suggested she could be very smart. She then stepped up to Group company with aplomb as she outbattled Port Fairy in the Cheshire Oaks and she’s to improve for her third run. Ralph Beckett has a decent record in this race and Forest Fairy will certainly be his primary runner her and she is one that has shown terrific battling qualities already in her career and is the one to beat!
THE FIELD
Despite beating Rubies Are Red in the Oaks Trial at Lingfield, You Got To Me is three times the price of the O’Brien charge for the Beckett team. Proven to be a Listed performer she may struggle to frank that form with the Ballydoyle contender, who can reverse the form. Andrew Balding’s Secret Satire was a shock winner of the Musidora Stakes at York a few weeks ago, but the form of that win is questionable, while Dance Sequence was well beaten in the Guineas at Newmarket and has to bounce back for Charlie Appleby.
VERDICT
Aidan O’Brien has an extremely strong hand in this event and Ylang Ylang has to be the leading challenger for the legendary handler, but FOREST FAIRY is one that looks to be a filly with huge potential and the way she outbattled her rivals at Chester suggested she’s tailor-made for an Oaks. This could be a race that turns into a real battle and she could well get the better of Ylang Ylang with Ezeliya finishing best of the rest.
- Forest Fairy
- Ylang Ylang
- Ezeliya
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