Epsom Oaks | Horse Racing Free Tips

Gosden Talks Up Emily Upjohn For Oaks At Gallops Morning

John Gosden has labelled Cazoo Oaks favourite Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) as being in the same league as Taghrooda (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who he first won the Epsom Classic with in 2014, after overseeing the unbeaten filly work at the track on Monday morning.

Emily Upjohn is a general even-money shot to provide Gosden with a fourth Oaks success following a stylish victory in the G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. at York earlier this month.

Gosden, who shares his training licence with his son Thady, also won the Oaks with Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in 2017 and Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in 2019, and is set to be double-handed in this year's race after Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was confirmed for Epsom on Saturday.

Speaking at the the Cazoo Derby Gallops Morning, Gosden said, “I think she [Emily Upjohn] is in the Taghrooda league. It would be silly to start talking about Enable as that would be completely over the top.”

He added, “It is her ability to travel and quicken over a trip that reminds me of Taghrooda. I know they were playing, if you like, coming down the hill at a half-speed but even the way she quickened today between the three and the two was impressive.”

Emily Upjohn has raced just three times in her career and, according to Gosden, the experience of Monday's dry run around Epsom will stand to the short-priced favourite come June 3.

Gosden said, “Frankie (Dettori) felt that for a filly who has had three races in her life it would be nice to come here and just have a look and feel of the track, which is all that you are doing as you are not trying to do any exploratory work.

“She behaved great, moved very well, got her leads right coming down the hill and quickened up nicely. I think she will come on a lot for that mentally. She is not a filly who raced a lot at two as she only had the one run at Wolverhampton, but you can see by the size of the frame of her why we were patient.”

He added, “She has filled out well and she has rather enjoyed her morning out here. I would hope she has got the speed for the Oaks as she has shown an ability to quicken. The other day in the Musidora she quickened well there at York.

“She did it well at Wolverhampton and at Sandown she sat very handy, then lengthened off the front. She has a change of gear.”

Gosden's Oaks hand is strengthened by the fact that Nashwa, a general 5-1 chance, is second only to her stablemate Emily Upjohn in the betting, with the trainer hopeful rather than confident that she will get the trip at Epsom.

He said, “They [Nashwa and Emily Upjohn] have never worked together and it won't be my intention to do so. This filly [Emily Upjohn] is guaranteed to stay a mile and a half. With Nashwa the speed she has shown it wouldn't be guaranteed she gets a mile and a half.”

Nashwa's participation in the Cazoo Oaks also throws up the possibility of a first ever Classic success for a female jockey, with Hollie Doyle set to ride.

Gosden added: “When Mr Imad Al Sagar asked me about Hollie two or three years ago I said she is a superb jockey that is very talented and horses run for her.

“She has an incredible work ethic. She reminds me a lot of Julie Krone. From my point of view she has been the ultimate jockey type and so I said it is a great idea if you retain her and he did.

“She looks at every detail of everything. She does her research properly and is a great race rider and if it came off it would be wonderful.”

He added, “You had a young lady win the US Open and that captured the imagination in this country and anything to that extent like this is particularly positive for the sport. It has had an image of being a bit crusty and clubby, but it is not.”

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Stone Age The Prime Choice for Moore

ROSEGREEN, Ireland–Ryan Moore will find it difficult to ride anything other than Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Cazoo Derby, according to Aidan O'Brien, who may be without the ace–Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB})–in his Epsom pack, but expects to run up to six colts as he bids for a record-extending ninth win in the race on June 4.

Stone Age didn't just open the door to a tilt at the Derby in winning the G3 Derby Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday, he kicked it open and announced himself as a leading player in demolishing the field and skyrocketing to a general 5-2 favourite for Epsom glory in the process.

O'Brien's breakthrough Derby winner, Galileo (Ire), charted a similar path to Epsom by winning that same Derby Trial at Leopardstown, and the master of Ballydoyle admits it could be hard for Moore to ride anything other than Stone Age next month.

“I think he [Ryan] would find it hard to not ride the horse from yesterday [Stone Age],” O'Brien said on Monday. “I imagine Ryan will find it hard not to ride him.”

Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Star Of India (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), impressive winners of their respective trials at Chester, Lingfield Derby Trial winner United Nations (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and 2,000 Guineas disappointment Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), will give Moore something to think about, but O'Brien revealed there would have been no decision to make if Luxembourg remained in the picture.

The long-time ante-post favourite for the Derby, Luxembourg ran a cracker to finish third in the 2,000 Guineas but has been ruled out until at least the autumn after picking up a muscular problem behind.

O'Brien explained, “I am disappointed for the lads. He is a very good horse. I don't think Ryan would have had a choice to make if he were fit.”

When a comparison was made between Luxembourg and St Nicholas Abbey (Ire), O'Brien added, “He probably has more scope than St Nicholas Abbey had. St Nick ran well in the Guineas [sixth] as well but he didn't run as well as this lad did. Luxembourg ran extremely well to make the ground up and finish third. We didn't really see what he was able to do.”

Despite not managing to win in five starts at two, O'Brien outlined how that experience stood to the new Derby favourite Stone Age, who is now unbeaten in his two starts this term and heads to Epsom as the leading Ballydoyle challenger.

O'Brien said, “It'd be hard not to be impressed with what Stone Age did at Leopardstown. You'd like to have something lead him but there was no point in messing him about. Ryan let him bowl along and he was very impressive.

“He has a lot of experience from his juvenile days. He was happy to get a lead at two. He'd have learnt a lot at two. We were running him and teaching him. He learnt a lot in those races.”

It seems somewhat ironic that O'Brien will face some of the stiffest competition in the Derby from his son Donnacha who appears to have outstanding claims of making his own breakthrough in the race with impressive Ballysax winner Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}).

Respecting the opposition, O'Brien said, “We always do our best to win no matter what. I am always happy if they [Donnacha or Joseph] beat us. They are rivals, one hundred per cent, but I am always delighted when we get beaten by them. Believe me, there's no inch given anywhere.”

O'Brien also holds the key to the Oaks and nominated Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a sister to Minding (Ire) and the general 7-2 favourite for the race, as the pick of his team for the fillies' Classic.

Tuesday overcame inexperience to finish strongly for third in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and O'Brien is convinced that there's more to come.

He said, “Tuesday doesn't turn three until the first week in June and, to be doing what she's doing is unreal. Her run in the Guineas would suggest that she's crying out for a step up in trip. She's still only a baby and we are thinking of running in the Irish Guineas and then going on to the Oaks, just like what Minding did.”

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Dettori, O’Brien Mourn Loss Of Top Ballydolye Filly Snowfall

Classic-winning filly Snowfall had to be euthanized after sustaining a pelvic injury in her stall, reports the Racing Post. Bred by the Coolmore partners, the 4-year-old daughter of the late Deep Impact was foaled out of a full sister to 2016 Arc de Triomphe winner Found.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien mourned the loss, telling racingpost.com: “We did everything we could for her but it wasn't to be. She is a massive loss to everyone here, from a racing and breeding perspective – she was such a high-class mare.”

A five-time winner from 14 starts, Snowfall came to prominence in 2021 with a 16-length victory in the Group 1 Epsom Oaks, the largest margin of victory in the race's history. She would go on to win the G1 Irish Oaks by 8 1/2 lengths and the G1 Yorkshire Oaks, her first try against older fillies and mares, by four lengths.

“I've ridden 21 British Classic winners in my life but I have never ridden an easier one than her in the Oaks,” Frankie Dettori told racingpost.com. “It was just unbelievable. I had the race won at Tattenham Corner. She was at her peak and just brilliant. She went through the field like a hot knife through butter.

“In this day and age, I don't think we will see a performance like that again. I don't expect to ever win another Classic like that in my life.”

Snowfall's dam, Best In The World, has also foaled a 2019 colt by Deep Impact named Newfoundland, who has yet to start, and an as-yet unnamed 2-year-old colt by Dubawi.

Record-Breaking Epsom Oaks Winner Snowfall Will Chase Oaks Double Saturday At The Curragh

Snowfall will attempt to become the 15th filly to complete the Oaks double, following her record breaking 16 lengths success at Epsom, when she lines up in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks this Saturday at The Curragh.

The Aidan O'Brien trained daughter of Deep Impact is among 9 fillies remaining in the Group 1 Classic following Tuesday's entry stage. He also has High Heels, Divinely, La Joconde and Willow in the race.

Trainer Donnacha O'Brien will look to win his first Classic as a trainer with Nicest, while his brother Joseph will be represented by Mariesque. Trainer Ger Lyons, who won the race last year with Even So, will look to win the race for a second successive year with Party House, while Fozzy Stack will be represented by Ahandfulofsummers.

A strong British trained team are set to line up in the Paddy Power Sapphire Stakes. The Group 2 contest has attracted Keep Busy trained by John Quinn and Came From The Dark trained by Ed Walker. Measure of Magic, Logo Hunter, Romantic Proposal, Gustavus Weston and Make A Challenge are the leading home trained contenders.

There are 10 entries for the Jebel Ali Racecourse and Stables Anglesey Stakes including recent Curragh Maiden winner Beauty Inspire, together with Hadman, Celtic Times, Strapped, Daisy Peers, Admiral D and Cadamosto.

Speak in Colours heads the 25 entries in the Paddy Power Scurry, which features three British trained contenders with Gulliver, Zargun and Mo Celita.

There are 23 entries in the Kildare Village Ladies Derby, won last year by Princess Zoe, while there are 15 entries in the Dingle Whiskey Nursery Handicap, 22 in the Juddmonte “Expert Eye” EBF Maiden and 13 in the Aquaturf Handicap, including Shanroe, Ever Present and Iowa

Sunday's 8 race program features the valuable Kilboy Estate Stakes with 19 entries in the Group 2 contest. These include Royal Ascot winner Create Belief trained by Johnny Murtagh, multiple stakes winner Angel Power trained in Britain by Roger Varian and Group 1 winner Pretty Gorgeous trained by Joseph O'Brien.

Breeders' Cup winner Order of Australia is one of 15 entries in the Romanised Minstrel Stakes, with contenders for the Group 2 contest also including A Case of You, Monaasib, Ace Aussie, Maker of Kings and Snapraeterea.

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