BETFRED 'THE BONUS KING' OAKS TRIAL S.-Listed, £40,000, Lingfield, 5-12, 3yo, f, 1 1/2m (AWT), 2:30.56, stn.
1–
#VOW (GB), 124, f, 3, by Motivator (GB)
1st Dam: Frog (GB), by Akarad (Fr)
2nd Dam: Best Girl Friend (GB), by Sharrood
3rd Dam: Girl Friend (GB), by Birdbrook (GB)
(60,000gns yrl '10 TATOCT). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing-Pocahontas; B-J B Haggas; T-William Haggas; J-Johnny Murtagh; £22,684. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, £27,212. *1/2 to Harris Tweed (GB) (Hernando {Fr}), GSW-Eng, $303,374; and 3/4 to Beaten Up (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}), GSW-Eng, $162,945.
2--
Colima (Ire), 124, f, 3, Authorized (Ire)--Coyote (GB), by Indian Ridge (Ire). (170,000gns wnlg '09 TATDEC). O-Mr & Mrs David Aykroyd; B-Sir Eric Parker; T-Ralph Beckett; £8,600.
3--
Estrela (GB), 124, f, 3, Authorized (Ire)--Wannabe Grand (Ire), by Danehill. (57,000gns wnlg '09 TATDEC). O-Seasons Holidays; B-Chippenham Lodge Stud Ltd; T-Roger Charlton; £4,304.
Margins: 3 1/4, 5, 3/4. Odds: 11-10, 5-1, 11-2.
Also Ran: Apothecary (GB), Zimira (Ire), Dinvar Diva (GB), Anabedweyah (Ire), Secrets Away (Ire). Scratched: Varnish (GB).
Vow was markedly green on debut when reeling in the subsequent Listed Cheshire Oaks fourth Everlong (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) in the a 10-furlong maiden at Newbury won in 2005 by the subsequent Epsom Oaks heroine Eswarah (GB) (Unfuwain) Apr. 20 and could bid to follow in that past star's footsteps after stamping her class on this prep. Well-supported beforehand, the bay raced wide and close to the early pace set by Estrela before being committed on the home turn. Soon clear, she veered away from the whip in the stretch but was always in complete command as Colima put up an eye-catching effort when staying-on into second. Vow is the second half of a two-horse team for Highclere's Pocahontas syndicate alongside leading Derby hopeful Bonfire (GB) (Manduro {Ger}) and the operation's MD Harry Herbert was reflecting on an exciting few weeks yesterday. "She was green and looking around in the straight, but she's won very nicely and we're very excited about her," he said. "You wouldn't believe it possible to have Vow and Bonfire in the same syndicate. We sent this filly to William Haggas, as his father bred her and she grew up with Bonfire and Camelot (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) at Highclere Stud. The dream is still alive." Johnny Murtagh added, "It was very straightforward until the last furlong, but she was a little bit green after that racing in the middle of the track. She gave me a nice feeling and will hopefully act at Epsom."
Click for the Racing Post chart or the video, courtesy attheraces.com. 