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Vodafone Oaks
Grant Newman, readaBet.com
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View Betting Verdict
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2003-06-06
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HI DUBAI TO SCORE OAKS WIN |
A total of fifteen fillies will go to post on Friday afternoon looking to cement their name in Vodafone Oaks history. The Group One Classic has again attracted a top class field and as has become the norm in recent years, the powerful teams of Godolphin and Ballydoyle dominate the betting for the twelve-furlong contest.
Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O’Brien won this race with Shahtoush in 1998 and Imagine in 2001 and the shrewd Irishman will be pinning his hopes on ante post favourite Yesterday to bring him more Oaks glory on Friday. The full sister to last year’s runner up Quarter Moon finished a promising eighth behind Russian Rhythm in last months 1000 Guineas at Newmarket before holding off the French star Six Perfections on her way to victory in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh two weeks ago. The Oaks has always been her primary objective and given O’Brien’s recent record in the classic, she must be respected.
L’Ancresse, runner up in the Irish 1000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown before finishing fifteenth in the Sagitta 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, will also represent the Ballydoyle operation.
Although Yesterday looks a worthy favourite for Friday’s showpiece, I believe the winner will come from the Godolphin camp, which again travels to Epsom with a particularly strong hand. The Maktoum family’s operation will be aiming for a fourth Oaks success following on from Balanchine (1994), Moonshell (1995) and Kazzia (2002) and this years main hope Hi Dubai looks a splendid bet to continue their excellent record in the historic event.
The Rahy filly created all the right impressions when battling on bravely to deny Hold To Ransom in the RL Davidson Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket in May and then further enhanced her Oaks credentials when narrowly beaten by Fidelite in her first Group One effort at Longchamp last month. That race would have provided her with some valuable experience and the mount of Frankie Dettori should be backed to go one better in this £375,000 contest. Being a full sister to Fantastic Light, she should improve over the longer trip and is certainly one for the shortlist.
Away from the big guns of Ballydoyle and Godolphin, Hanami has to be respected from the James Toller yard. The Hernando filly overcame an interrupted preparation to run a cracking oaks trial in the 1000 Guineas last month, when despite being hampered 2f out she came through strongly to take fifth place behind Russian Rhythm. The step up to 1m4f will surely suit and with connections raving about her work at home, she cannot be ruled out.
The Vodaphone Oaks is one of the few races to have eluded owner Robert Sangster and his runner Ocean Silk could prove to be a lively outsider. The John Gosden trained filly broke her maiden tag at Chester back in May and was then on hand to follow up at Goodwood just 13 days later when getting the better of Mezzo Soprano in the Caffreys Lupe Stakes, a traditional trial for the English Oaks. Although she should stay the 1m4f, she looked uneasy when coming down the hill at Goodwood last time out and that doesn’t bode well for racing on Epsom’s unique undulating track.
Hammiya supplemented at cost of £20,000 also deserves a mention. The Marcus Tregoning trained hopeful is unbeaten this year and comes into the race on the back of a fine victory in the Cheshire Oaks last month, where she proved too strong for Halawanda (Sir Michael Stoutes main hope in this years renewal).
Further down the list, the supplemented pairing of Santa Sophia and Geminani are also worthy of consideration. The grey Santa Sophia impressed when winning the Oaks trial at Lingfield, although clearly needs to find more and the Kings Of Kings filly Geminani won her first two races before chasing home Cassis in the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York last time out. |
| Betting Verdict |
2pts win only Hi Dubai at
Although a case can be made for many of the fillies on Friday, the one that should be supported is Hi Dubai. The full sister to the brilliant Fantastic Light will come on for her recent effort at Longchamp and looks guaranteed to stay the extra distance. The boys in blue have a fabulous record in this race and HI Dubai looks a super bet to emulate the success of Kazzia in 2002. |
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