1m 4f (1m4f6y) Betfred Oaks (Group 1) (Fillies) (Class 1) (3yo)
Amelia Earhart has a quirky edge about her and I wonder whether they will be able to keep a lid on her tomorrow. Her form figures aren’t particularly exciting and her odds of 2/1 are clearly driven by jockey bookings than what she has done on track.
Ballydoyle run three in this and they could control the tactics here just like they did in the Prix Du Jockey Club when their horses finished 1-2-3 last weekend. It’s always worth looking at their second strings and I thought CAMEO was the most impressive trial winner of any in here. Aidan O’Brien trains and Wootton Bassett is a sire whose progeny often bring a mix of pace, stamina and class. Her Lingfield Oaks Trial win last time out was a proper piece of form, as she travelled smoothly, handled the track well, and stayed on strongly to win in authoritative fashion. That run suggested she can thrive over this trip and she reminds me a lot of previous Oaks winner Snowfall in terms of her profile.
THUNDERING ON also makes plenty of appeal with her case strengthened by the fact she is trained by Joseph O’Brien, whose fillies are often very well prepared for the big spring Classics. She took a clear step forward in her last run when landing the Salsabil Stakes at Navan, a performance that suggested she possesses both significant stamina and progression for the yard. As a daughter of Frankel, she has the pedigree to relish this trip, and that blend of class and staying power makes her a serious Oaks contender here.
1pt win Thundering On @11/2, 1pt win Cameo @8/1, 16:00 Epsom, Saturday
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