Deep Impact’s Snowfall A Class Apart In The Oaks

Aidan O'Brien saddled five in Friday's G1 Cazoo Oaks at Epsom, but ultimately there was only one that mattered as Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) ran away with the prize by a record-setting margin of 16 lengths under Frankie Dettori. Serving notice that she had turned around her fortunes from a largely disappointing juvenile campaign when making all in the G3 Musidora S. at York May 12, the 11-2 shot arrived from rear under a tight hold to brush aside Mystery Angel (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) passing two out. Sprinting clear in scintillating fashion against the stand's rail, it was exhibition stuff from the relative of Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) as she provided her rider with a sixth Oaks and her trainer with a ninth. Mystery Angel held on gamely for second at 50-1, heading the clutch of outclassed fillies 1 3/4 lengths in front of Snowfall's stablemate and relative Divinely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Frankie summed up the general feeling afterwards when saying, “That was unbelievable. I wanted a better position, but they went off way too fast so I let them get on with it. Four out I had everything beat. I looked in front and they were all gone. I just cut through the middle–it was like a hot knife through butter. It was quite remarkable, because I pulled up by the stables and everybody else pulled up by the winning post! I've won many Classics, but none as easy as this one. Enable did the Irish Oaks, King George and Arc as a 3-year-old after this and I wouldn't put that past her, she's that good.”

When Snowfall beat the much-vaunted Noon Star (Galileo {Ire}) and Teona (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) effectively pulling a cart at 14-1 in the Musidora, there was a sense of general surprise given that every time she had come up against quality opposition at two she had been found wanting. Incredibly, she was involved in the notorious mix-up with Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the G1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket in October and having been called third initially was later confirmed as having finished eighth behind that eventual G1 1000 Guineas heroine. That Frankie should ride both to separate Classic success with all at Rosegreen infatuated with TDN Rising Star Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is a twist of fate which stretches even the wildest imagination and the manner of this performance was simply extraordinary given the competitive look of the race beforehand.

If things had fallen differently for Snowfall early in her 2-year-old career, she may have been coming here as the stable number one instead of able deputy. She must have kidded them at Ballydoyle before she set foot on a racecourse, as she was introduced over an extended five furlongs at Navan in June and, with the benefit of this kind of hindsight, managed something unusual by finishing third behind the super-charged Frenetic (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) with Mother Earth in second. In what could have been a sliding doors moment, she clipped heels when coming to win her second start over seven furlongs at The Curragh later that month and was lucky to stand up. Despite going back to that same course and distance to break her maiden three weeks later, that incident may have had a lingering effect as her next four starts resulted in off-the-board efforts. Fourth in Leopardstown's G3 Silver Flash S. and fifth in The Curragh's G2 Debutante S. in August, she was only ninth in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. in September prior to another no-show running as the wrong filly in the Fillies' Mile.

Aidan O'Brien may not have been able to foresee such a dynamic performance, which puts her front-and-centre among the Classic generation and will take some matching in Saturday's Derby, but he did reveal that he had an inkling the winner was capable of something unique beforehand. “We really thought she was a proper group one filly last year and she kept disappointing,” commented the Ballydoyle handler, who is ripping up the rule books equalling John Scott's 185-year-old record of 40 British Classic winners. “Little things happened to her in races and stuff like that. She was very impressive at York and maybe she's just got a bit stronger over the winter and the extra distance helped. She's by Deep Impact out of a full-sister to Found, so it's an unbelievable pedigree. When ground turns like that, you can sometimes get extreme distances but Frankie gave her a very good ride and she looks a very special filly.”

Of Santa Barbara, who ended up fifth as the 5-2 favourite, he added, “Ryan said she cantered into the race and then, in that ground, she just emptied out on him. She'll probably go back to a mile and a quarter next. She has loads of class. We thought that she would handle that ground, but in that going staying the trip was the worry with the pace she has. She's a big, powerful, strong filly.”

Snowfall is the first foal out of the ambitiously-titled and now aptly-named Best In the World (Ire) by the stellar sire Galileo who has such a major influence again on Saturday's Derby. Her two wins in blck-type company came in the G3 Give Thanks S. and the Listed Staffordstown Stud S., while she was also runner-up in the G2 Blandford S. and third in the G3 Munster Oaks. As mentioned, she is a full-sister to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and GI Breeders' Cup Turf heroine Found, as well as the G3 Park S. winner Magical Dream (Ire) and last year's G3 Flame of Tara S. winner Divinely who chased her home here. Found is in turn now the dam of last year's G2 Vintage S. winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up Battleground (War Front). These four Galileo siblings are out of the G1 Lockinge S. and G1 Matron S. heroine Red Evie (Ire) (Intikhab). Best In the World's unraced 2-year-old full-brother to Snowfall is in training at Ballydoyle and named Newfoundland (Ire), while she also has a yearling colt by Dubawi (Ire).

Friday, Epsom Downs, Britain
CAZOO OAKS-G1, £395,000, Epsom, 6-4, 3yo, f, 12f 6yT, 2:42.67, g/s.
1–SNOWFALL (JPN), 126, f, 3, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
1st Dam: Best In The World (Ire) (GSW-Ire, $141,246), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Red Evie (Ire), by Intikhab
3rd Dam: Malafemmena (Ire), by Nordico
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Roncon, Chelston Ire, Wynatt (JPN); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £224,005. Lifetime Record: 9-3-0-1, $393,132. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mystery Angel (Ire), 126, f, 3, Kodi Bear (Ire)–Angel Grace (Ire), by Dark Angel (Ire). (£13,000 Ylg '19 GOFFPR; 22,000gns 2yo '20 TATBRE). O-Nick Bradley Racing 27 & Partner; B-Mrs Noelle Walsh (IRE); T-George Boughey. £84,925.
3–Divinely (Ire), 126, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Red Evie (Ire), by Intikhab. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £42,502.
Margins: 16, 1 3/4, 1. Odds: 5.50, 50.00, 20.00.
Also Ran: Save A Forest (Ire), Santa Barbara (Ire), Ocean Road (Ire), Technique (GB), Saffron Beach (Ire), Sherbet Lemon, Teona (Ire), La Joconde (Ire), Dubai Fountain (Ire), Zeyaadah (Ire), Willow (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Frankie on Snowfall in Cazoo Oaks

Aidan O'Brien has booked Frankie Dettori for the G3 Musidora S. winner Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in Friday's G1 Cazoo Oaks at Epsom, for which 14 fillies were confirmed on Wednesday. Registering a career-best when winning by 3 3/4 lengths in that extended 10-furlong trial at York May 12, she joins 'TDN Rising Star' and likely favourite Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and three others from Rosegreen in the mile-and-a-half Classic. As expected, Ryan Moore sticks with the May 2 G1 1000 Guineas fourth Santa Barbara, while Seamie Heffernan takes the mount on the G3 Flame of Tara S. winner Divinely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Wayne Lordan is on the G3 Blue Wind S. third Willow (Ire) (American Pharoah) and William Buick picks up the ride on the Listed Cheshire Oaks fourth La Joconde (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

O'Brien was at The Curragh on Wednesday and gave the low-down on the quintet. “We always thought the world of Snowfall last year, but she didn't really put it together. Maybe it was the winter under her belt or going up in trip which helped her or a bit of both, but we were pleased with her at York,” he said. “With Santa Barbara, we had to be careful with her going to the Guineas but we were able to train her a little bit harder for the Oaks and we've been very happy with her since. She looks like she'll definitely get a mile and a quarter and there is a good chance of her getting the trip. Being by Camelot, she has that influence for stamina but she's not short of pace and class. Wayne [Lordan] really liked Willow at Naas and we think she's gone the right way while we always thought Divinely would improve for a step up in trip. We were very happy with her at Lingfield–it was a slowly-run race and all her figures from her work have been very favourable with the others. La Joconde is a maiden, but has worked nicely and we always thought she was better than her form so we are letting her take her chance as well.”

After the draw was made for the £395,000 contest, it was Shadwell's Cheshire Oaks runner-up Zeyaadah (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) who was handed the disadvantageous one stall with Qatar Racing's Ocean Road (Ire) (Australia {GB}) alongside in two. The latter, who was third behind Sherbet Lemon (Lemon Drop Kid) and Save a Forest (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and in front of Divinely in the May 8 Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial, was the subject of a bullish bulletin from trainer Hugo Palmer on Wednesday.

“I think she has come on an enormous amount from Lingfield,” he said of the half-sister to the dual GI Northern Dancer Turf S. hero Wigmore Hall (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) who was given a sighter of Epsom last week. “I'd be confident that she has come on at least 10 pounds and if she has come on 20 pounds she is going to be right there. I weighed her on Monday. She was only just ready to run when she went to Lingfield and she has stripped down to hard-fit now. She is 18 kilos lighter than she was at Lingfield. Her work has been really good. She is an outsider, but I think she is a lively outsider. She has a lot of improvement to find, not least to beat the two horses that beat her last time, but I think everyone is united that it's a pretty open year.”

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's Cheshire Oaks winner Dubai Fountain (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas runner-up Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) have been drawn six and seven respectively, with Ali Saeed's Musidora third Teona (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in eight.

In other Epsom news to break on Wednesday, Aidan O'Brien announced that last year's G2 Beresford S. winner High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will miss Saturday's G1 Cazoo Derby at Epsom for which he was the winter ante-post favourite and wait for the G1 Irish Derby at The Curragh on June 26.

Confirming that 'TDN Rising Star' Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will be the stable's sole representative in the blue riband, the Ballydoyle handler said during racing at The Curragh, “Nothing is written in stone until ten o'clock in the morning, but it looks like the two horses are going to be split. It looks like Bolshoi Ballet is going to Epsom and it looks like High Definition is coming straight here. Bolshoi would be our only runner at Epsom–that's what the lads are thinking to give the two of them a chance at a Derby. It's the right thing.”

O'Brien revealed that the four other remaining entries would go in separate directions. “St Mark's Basilica and Van Gogh are going to France [for Sunday's G1 Prix du Jockey Club],” he continued. “Kyprios is going to Ascot for the Queen's Vase and Sir Lamorak might go for the King Edward. We were lucky to get the run into High Definition at York and we think he's a very good horse. A little more time won't do him any harm. It was just to give the two of them a chance until they have to meet. The Curragh Derby is a very important race, as the Epsom Derby is also. I'm very happy with both horses. If we didn't get the run into High Definition then there was no decision to make, as if he didn't run in York then he definitely wouldn't go to Epsom.”

With Frankie Dettori no longer required by Ballydoyle, the 50-year-old who was widely expected to be on High Definition instead gets the call-up for TDN Rising Star John Leeper (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Cristina Patino's May 15 Listed Fairway S. winner was due to be ridden by Adam Kirby, but the owner-breeder was intent on snaring the jockey who steered Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab) to glory in the 2012 G1 Irish Champion S.

“Frankie was the first choice and was approached quite a while ago, but he has been riding a lot for Aidan in England and that was going to happen until the bolt out of the blue from Ballydoyle this afternoon,” trainer Ed Dunlop explained to the Racing Post. “There are no negatives with Frankie riding in the Derby and the horse's work is all done now. He's done everything we've wanted him to do so far and, touch wood, everything is going well going into the race. The news today came a bit out of the blue, but once Mrs. Patino heard she was very keen and instructed us to see if Frankie was available.”

Before Epsom's action gets underway, Thursday's Leopardstown card features the Listed Glencairn S. over a mile, where The Aga Khan's 2020 G3 Amethyst S. winner Sinawann (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) makes his seasonal bow, and the 12-furlong Listed Nijinsky S. for 3-year-olds. The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was one of the members of Ballydoyle's drastically trimmed-down Derby list, heads here instead having been successful in a maiden over the course and distance May 9. The son of the classy Flashy Wings (GB) (Zafonic) meets Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's Fernando Vichi (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who gives more clues as to the measurable ability of Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) having been third to the hot Derby favourite in the same card's G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial.

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Friday’s Cazoo Oaks Attracts 14

The 1 1/2-mile £395,000 G1 Cazoo Oaks has drawn a field of 14, including ante-post favourite and 'TDN Rising Star' Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) for Coolmore partners and Aidan O'Brien who will leave from stall four.

Joining the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas fourth from Ballydoyle is G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. heroine Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), G3 Kilcarn Stud Flame Of Tara Irish EBF S. victress Divinely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the Group 3 placed Willow (Ire) (American Pharoah), and La Joconde (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), runner-up in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 2 for the Sangster family, James Wigan and trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam, drew post seven. One to her inside is Mark Johnston's Dubai Fountain (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), the winner of the Listed Cheshire Oaks on May 5 for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.

Shadwell's listed winner Zeyaadah (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) is one of three for trainer Roger Varian, the others are Musidora third Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the colours of Ali Saeed and the Gredley Family's Save A Forest (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), second to the Archie Watson-trained and Apple Tree Stud-owned Sherbet Lemon (Lemon Drop Kid) in the Listed Novibet Oaks Trial Fillies' S. Third to Sherbet Lemon that day was Qatar Racing's Ocean Road (Ire) (Australia {GB}) who will leave from stall five for Hugo Palmer with Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy in the irons.

Rounding out the field are Mantonbury Stud's Technique (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) from the Martyn Meade yard and supplementary entry Mystery Angel (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) for Nick Bradley Racing 27 and Partner. The Ben Curtis trainee won the Listed Betfair Pretty Polly S. and was fourth in the Musidora to Snowfall.

Nick Bradley said of his £22,500 supplementary entry, “It looks a stronger race than we'd have liked, but we are where we are. The track will suit and she appears to be in very good form–she's in better form at home than she was going to York.

“She looks overpriced a little bit at the moment, I think. We're hopeful of a good run.”

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Watering to Continue at Epsom

Epsom Downs will receive more water on Wednesday morning, the racecourse announced on Tuesday. Epsom Downs Clerk of the Course and Head of Racing Andrew Cooper issued a going update on Tuesday evening in advance of the June 4-5 Cazoo Derby Festival.

“We've maintained a going report here of Good, Good To Firm in places and we produced a Turftrax GoingStick reading of 7.1, which is actually what it was on Sunday morning,” said Cooper in a statement.

“It had increased to 7.4 yesterday morning and the watering that we've done has improved matters a touch and brought us back to a stage where we were two days ago–which is historically pretty much good ground. However there is definitely ground that's on the quicker side on bits of the course though, hence that going description.

“We've had another hot day and it looks a hotter day still tomorrow, with talks of 26 or 27 degrees in the South East. Epsom is often a degree or so lower than the maximum because we're quite elevated here and often have a bit of a breeze so it would often be hotter at Sandown than here in terms of actual temperature.

“The plan here and now is to embark on a watering programme again tomorrow but quite exactly how much we'll leave until the morning. We'll take stock of the forecasts but I'm sure we'll be doing something quite widespread because we know we'll lose 3mm of moisture of soil here on a day like today.

“I'd say that we are now where we want to be in terms of a broad aim for Friday–as opposed to anything any slower or anything any quicker. That's quite a good ground condition to go into a two-day meeting on, which means you can probably let nature take its course thereafter and be no worse than Good To Firm on Saturday.

“You'd have called us Soft on Monday of last week but by Friday you wouldn't have called it any slower than Good To Soft. All courses up and down the country are drying out at the moment but Epsom Downs being chalk-based is rather free draining and it can turn very quickly.”

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