Few Stars But Epsom Clues Aplenty

Epsom, UK—Perfect clarity is what we all seek when it comes to predicting how events will unfold on the Epsom Downs the weekend after next. How much a relatively restrained canter around racing's equivalent of a helter-skelter ride will have told the trainers of the two Classic hopefuls which appeared for Tuesday morning's Breakfast With The Stars remains to be seen, but we are at least several steps closer to gleaning who will or won't be running.

Clive Cox already has Perfect Clarity (GB), in his yard if not in his mind, though it has to be said that the trainer was as bullish as he has ever sounded in that appealingly understated way of his when it came to discussing the merits of the filly who could give her sire Nathaniel (Ire) a second Investec Oaks winner from just his second crop.

“She's only run twice so I'm really grateful to Epsom for putting today on. After winning the Oaks Trial down at Lingfield we've been really happy with her and today is another opportunity to give her more exposure,” said Cox after watching Adam Kirby put Bridget Drew and David Keast's filly through a ten-furlong workout around Tattenham Corner and all the way down the straight behind stablemate Luire (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

“She's a filly in which I have enormous confidence that she's going to acquit herself well. She's definitely the best middle-distance filly that I've had anything to do with. I'm very relaxed,” he added.

“The Oaks picture has changed dramatically over the last two weeks. There are a lot of nice fillies out there—the Newbury winner [Sea Of Class]—and the whole picture is coming together very excitingly. With the timescale of my filly's win at Lingfield and having a little airing here today, as long as we keep her fresh and well in the meantime I'm looking forward to it very much.”

William Haggas, who won the Oaks in 2011 with Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), could potentially saddle two fillies for this year's race. He had previously aired his doubts over the stamina reserves of Musidora S. winner Give And Take (GB) but she will now head for Epsom instead of her alternative option of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary. The daughter of Cityscape (GB) may well have stablemate Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for company after her breakthrough victory at Newbury on Saturday.

“Give And Take will definitely run in the Oaks,” stated the trainer. “Nicholas [Jones] is an English owner-breeder and when you sit down and breed these horses and you dream, with all due respect you don't dream of winning the Prix Saint-Alary, you dream of winning the Investec Oaks. For an English owner-breeder in particular, and I can't stress this enough, this is the pinnacle.”

Haggas continued, “James [Doyle] at the moment will ride her, but that depends what happens with Sea Of Class. Sea Of Class ran very well last week and didn't surprise us very much but I feel at the moment that it's all coming a bit quickly.

“I emailed [owner] Mrs Tsui after Newbury and got a response this morning but I think we just need to speak in person and decide what to do. She's quite keen to go and naturally says there's only one Investec Oaks and you can go anywhere else whenever you want. Mrs Tsui will ultimately make the decision. I've got her in the Ribblesdale and we'll put her in the Irish Oaks tomorrow. The French Oaks to me, although it's a big supplementary, looks the right fit. It just gives her a month on from Newbury and then there's time then to go on to the Irish Oaks. We'll see. It's very possible that they will both line up [at Epsom].”

Neither of the Haggas fillies was in attendance for Breakfast With The Stars but Chester Vase winner and Derby hopeful Young Rascal (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) was, along with his owner Bernard Kantor, managing director of Investec, which this year celebrates ten years of sponsorship of the Derby meeting, an association which is set to continue to 2026.

James Doyle was in the saddle, just as he has been for Young Rascal's two victories this season, and the colt with a notably high knee action appeared to bowl along quite happily alongside Original Choice (Ire) (Dragon Pulse {Ire}), a winner recently at Wetherby.

“This is going to get to [Bernard] big time if we can get the horse in top shape for the day,” Haggas said. “Obviously we've always tried to get a horse for the Derby for him. If he's buying a yearling through Anthony Stroud he's always looking to try to buy something to run well or win the Derby. It's his company's race and this is his passion. Bernard's been a very good friend of mine for a long time, I've trained for him for 22 years and to have a runner for him on Derby day for him would be very special for me.”

He continued, “Throughout the winter I thought the Derby would be too early for [Young Rascal] in his career but he ran a really good time at Newbury and he justified going to Chester. That form is probably not good enough at the moment but I think the horse is getting better. James was really quite impressed with him today.”

Recent Derby winners Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) both appeared at Breakfast With The Stars before going on to Epsom glory, though lurking in County Tipperary is the QIPCO 2000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior (JPN) (Deep Impact {JPN}), a worthy short-priced favourite to go a step closer to claiming the Triple Crown.

Joining the breakfast bash by telephone, his trainer Aidan O'Brien issued a positive bulletin but wouldn't yet be drawn on his exact line-up for the Derby, which could include as many as six runners from Ballydoyle, the same number fielded last year when 40/1 shot Wings Of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}) swooped to victory.

“We are happy with Saxon Warrior and it's so far, so good with all the possibles. Obviously if they're in good shape and they're well, the lads like to give them their chance, like they did last year,” said O'Brien.

Masar (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) was third to Saxon Warrior at Newmarket and will attempt to reverse the Guineas form as the sole representative for Godolphin from Charlie Appleby's stable.

“Going up in trip was always going to be his forte as a 3-year-old and he's got the pedigree to go a mile and a half, for sure,” said Appleby, who will also run Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Oaks. “He's settled very well this season and he's a much more professional horse so I think he's got every chance of staying the Derby trip. I've always been a strong believer that the Guineas is the best trial for the Derby and from what I've seen it does look the best trial at the moment. With Masar, I'm confident that if he gets behind horses he'll switch off and relax. He and Wild Illusion have both taken their trials very well and our immediate plan after those races was to go for the Derby and the Oaks.”

John Gosden had only one fewer than O'Brien to saddle for last year's Derby and, another to join the press conference by telephone, he confirmed that Qatar Racing's Dante S. winner Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy) will take his chance. “He's in splendid form and the owner is very keen that he goes for the Derby, so that is where he is going and I think that's the right call,” he said.

The trainer, who won last year's Oaks with Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), has the favourite for this year's race in Lah Ti Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a last-minute scratching for her scheduled appearance at Breakfast With The Stars owing to the warm weather in the south of England.

“She's fine, she's just going out for a canter and she worked nicely on Friday,” her trainer assured the audience. “It was just the six hours on the road and a bit of heat coming home, I didn't feel it was something she needed ten days before the race. She's pleased us in everything she has done and we just felt she was better at home today than on the road.”

Gosden went on to explain how Lah Ti Dar's full-sister So Mi Dar (GB) missed her intended start in the Oaks two years ago after being startled by a lawnmower starting up while on her way home from exercise, causing her to fall and injure herself. He's clearly taking no chances when it comes to having Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber's homebred on song to avenge her sibling.