Hello and welcome to arseonlineracing. A 100% independent racing website that has NO affiliate links. This website is curated by 2 racing enthusiasts from either end of the British Isles. Charlie hails from Glasgow while Rich is from the Isle of Wight… Miles apart but united by the sport of kings…
Well here we are again folks, it’s Oaks day at Epsom and here we bring you our thoughts and selections for the big race… Charlie & Rich are joined by Jamie for both days of the Epsom meeting….
Our thoughts for the Oaks are …..
Charlie – Mehdaayih – John Gosden.
Mehdaayih started off her racing career with a 6th place finish over 7f at Goodwood on the 2nd August 2018. Was sent to Doncaster 16 days later to race over 1m and finished a 3/4 length 2nd to Quintada. She would make her next appearance at Yarmouth on the 23rd October over 1m 3f. Mehdaayih won beating Fanny Logan by a neck. Was then put away for the winter before making seasonal return at Chelmsford on the 18th April this year and won easily having faced only one opponent. Most recently won the Cheshire Oaks at Chester over 1m 3f 75y. Mehdaayih won beating Manuela De Vega by 4 lengths in 2nd with Fanny Logan a further length behind in 3rd. Mehdaayih has a lovely pedigree being out of Frankel and Sayyedati Symphony and has progressed with every run, she fits in with the trends and is my idea of the winner. Main Dangers come in the shape of Aidan O’brien trained Pink Dogwood and Maqsad who is trained by William Haggas.
Jamie –
Anapurna – John Gosden
Frankel Filly Anapurna created a big impression on me when bolting
up in the trial for this very race at Lingfield. She is still unexposed and
the booking of a certain Lanfranco Dettori is a big plus. It looks like
she will stay the trip after the way she won the Lingfield race. My
only slight concern is that the ground may be too fast… Big chance if
she handles course and ground well!
Rich –
The Lingfield Oaks trial winner Anapurna was impressive when landing the Listed race by 6 lengths from Tauteke in the 1m 3f 133yd contest last month having won at the All Weather course in a Class 5 maiden by 5 lengths but I am not too sure how that form will work at Epsom, as the form of the Oaks & Derby trials don’t tend to win at the big race at Epsom.
I have to admit I am intrigued by Mehdaayih, who has now on 3 on the bounce and is 2 from 2 so far this season having won a Chelmsford(AW) 1m 2f Handicap by 14 lengths before heading to Chester for the Cheshire Oaks. She won the Listed 1m 2f race on May 8th by 4 & 1/2 lengths and seems to be following the same route as Enable.. The form of her Yarmouth 1m 4f Class 4 Fillies’ Novice Stakes last October has worked out well when beating Fanny Logan by a neck and then again at Chester by 5 & 1/2 lengths. Back in 3rd that day at Yarmouth was Maqsad, who is 2 from 2 this season having landed a 1m Class 4 Maiden at Newmarket by a short head and then followed up in the Pretty Polly Stakes(Class 1 Fillies’ Listed) at Newmarket over 1m 2f by 5 lengths and is now rated higher at 109 compared to Mehdaayih at 105…
The most likely of the Aidan O’Brien battalion is Pink Dogwood, who won a Gowran 1m Maiden last September before finishing a 1 & 1/2 length 5th to Lily’s Candle in the Marcel Boussac(Fillies’ Group 1) at Longchamp in October. Made a winning return at Navan on April 28th in the Salsabil Class 1Fillies’ Listed Stakes beating Encapsulation by 1 & 1/2 lengths with Tarnawa back in 3rd, she has since won the Blue Wind Stakes (Group 3) at Naas by a neck and is another Irish raider for Dermot Weld….
Final thought…. MAQSAD – William Haggas
Thanks for popping by folks, we hope this help find a solution to the Oaks quandary…
All the Best – Charlie, Jamie & Rich
arseonlineracing 