16:30 Epsom Downs

Friday 31 May 2019

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:3017:1517:50

Investec Oaks (Fillies' Group 1)

Off time: 16:33 | Winning time: 2m 36.09s

(3)

Anapurna²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 103| D

8/1

Improved from debut when a 5L winner at Lingfield (AW) and then couldn't have won more impressively in the Oaks trial back at that venue on turf. Could improve for that first run in 101 days and yard have won two of the last five renewals of this.

Form: 9-11

(11)

Blue Gardenia¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Spencer| T: D O'Meara| OR: 96

100/1

Ran with credit on each of her first four starts before getting her head in front in Listed class at Newmarket in November. Form of that race isn't anything special and in behind Frankellina (dh second) in the Musidora on reappearance; needs more.

Form: 32521-5

(13)

Delphinia²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 98

66/1

Justified favouritism in a maiden on third start at Galway and not disgraced behind Tarnawa in a fillies' Group 3 at Naas last time. Shapes like this step up in trip will suit but wide draw isn't ideal and has plenty to find on form.

Form: 071-63

(10)

Fleeting²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 105

25/1

Enjoyed a good two-year-old career that culminated in a win in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster. Too bad to be true in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket when failing to beat a rival home and new trip is a big question mark; others preferred.

Form: 1731-0

(14)

Frankellina¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: W J Haggas

12/1

Narrowly justified odds of 5/4 at Yarmouth on debut and not beaten far in the Musidora, shaping like she may improve from that. Others may bring stronger form in to this but her dam won over this trip, so the step up in trip could see her improve.

Form: 1-2

(4)

Lavender's Blue¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: Mrs A J Perrett

16/1

Won her Newmarket maiden on debut and only narrowly denied at Newbury in what looked a red-hot Listed race two weeks ago. This Sea The Stars filly could have more to give up in trip and the booking of De Sousa always a positive at this venue.

Form: 12

(1)

Manuela De Vega²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 99

16/1

Won her maiden at Salisbury and improved from that when stepped up to Listed class on just her second start. Lost her unbeaten record at Chester last time but may do better if she can settle in her races and not ruled out with stamina now assured.

Form: 11-2

(5)

Maqsad²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 109| BF

4/1

Respectable efforts in two juvenile runs. Won a Newmarket maiden on reappearance with the front two pulling a long way clear and bolted up back at that venue in Listed class (1m2f) since. Out of a Galileo mare so could have more to come up in trip.

Form: 23-11

(6)

Mehdaayih²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 105

11/4

Won a decent looking fillies' novice race at Yarmouth in October (Maqsad third) and won a match race on return. Very impressive when bolting up in Cheshire Oaks last time when sweeping wide around the home turn and powering clear; leading contender.

Form: 621-11

(9)

Peach Tree²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 103

33/1

A little hit and miss in her seven-race career so far, failing to confirm the form of a Listed win over Tarnawa when fourth behind that rival in a fillies' Group 3 at Naas on return. Needs to improve markedly for the step up in trip.

Form: 18201-4

(12)

Pink Dogwood³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104

3/1

Gowran maiden winner (heavy, 1m) in 2018 and not beaten far in a Group 1 next time. Had Tarnawa in behind in a fillies' Listed race at Navan on return and that rival has franked the form by winning a Group 3; good chance she will improve up in trip.

Form: 2215-1

(2)

Sh Boom¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: T P Queally| T: P W Chapple-Hyam| OR: 90

100/1

Improved from debut to win at Newmarket on final start of 2018. Beaten 4½L in a Listed race at Newbury on return (Lavender's Blue second) and while she may come on for that run, there's no guarantee she will stay this trip.

Form: 51-6

(7)

Tarnawa²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld| OR: 101

20/1

Showed promise as a juvenile and didn't need to improve to win at Leopardstown on return. 1¾L behind Pink Dogwood at Navan next time and ran to a similar level when narrowly prevailing in a Group 3 at Naas; needs more and there's stamina doubts.

Form: 322-131

(8)

Tauteke²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 90

25/1

Won at Chelmsford towards the back end of last year in a novice event where the front two pulled 9L clear. However, finished 6L behind Anapurna in the Oaks trial at Lingfield and needs to improve plenty just to reverse that form.

Form: 31-2

Forecasts

Mehdaayih (11/4), Pink Dogwood (3/1), Maqsad (4/1), Anapurna (8/1), Frankellina (12/1), Manuela De Vega (16/1), Lavender's Blue (16/1), Tarnawa (20/1), Fleeting (25/1), Tauteke (25/1), Peach Tree (33/1), Delphinia (66/1), Blue Gardenia (100/1), Sh Boom (100/1)

Aidan O'Brien and John Gosden have dominated this race in recent times and it could be a familiar story again with both outfits holding a strong hand in this year's Oaks. A tentative vote goes to MEHDAAYIH who could hardly have been more impressive at Chester last time. Already proven at a similar trip and on a tight track, she ticks a lot of boxes and may be able to justify the supplementary fee paid by connections on Monday. Stablemate Anapurna arrives with a similar profile and she was a wide margin winner of the Lingfield trial earlier in the month. Pink Dogwood is the pick of the O'Brien quartet with a step up in trip almost certain to see her improve.