Crystal Clear

Sir Michael Stoute last enjoyed success in the G1 Investec Oaks in 1987, but in Crystal Zvezda (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) he has arguably one of his best chances in the interim and hopes are high that Freemason Lodge will be in celebratory mood on Friday evening. Sir Evelyn de Rothschild's homebred is a half-sister to the proven 12-furlong performers Crystal Capella (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Hillstar (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and looked, when winning Newbury's Listed Fillies' Trial S. over 10 furlongs May 16, as if this trip would be well within her compass. “We were contemplating sending her to the Guineas, but she just wouldn't come in time and 10 days before Newbury I saw a spark there,” Stoute explained.

“I thought she could be a Guineas filly who would stay the Oaks trip, because she's got a half-brother by Danehill Dancer who stayed a mile and a half and Crystal Capella won at that trip, while a half-sister to the dam called Waila (GB) (Notnowcato {GB}) that we trained got a mile and six,” trainer Sir Michael Stoute continued of Crystal Zvezda. “They seem to get the trip well from this family and I'd be surprised if she has problems with this distance.” Hammered down to around 3-1 in the betting in recent days as a result of her visually stunning performance at Newbury, Stoute appears in significantly bullish form. “She had to come all the way round them last time, but she showed a turn of foot and will improve from that,” he said. “There wouldn't need to be a lot more to come. She's an athletic, good-moving filly who I think will handle the course well.”

York Clues…
As always, York's G3 Musidora S. is bound to have an impact on proceedings and in the May 13 renewal it was Lady Bamford's Star of Seville (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) who got the better of Together Forever (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by a head when in receipt of four pounds. William Buick is back on the winner, who had previously taken the same 10-furlong Newbury conditions event Apr. 17 won by the 2007 Oaks heroine Light Shift (Kingmambo). “She was comfortable around Epsom [during the “Breakfast with the Stars” morning] at a canter last week and this looks like a good, but open, race,” Buick commented. “She's uncomplicated and likes to be on the front end, so hopefully we can get a straightforward trip.” Frankie Dettori, who partnered Star of Seville at Newbury and York, has opted to ride the May 3 Listed Pretty Polly S. scorer Jazzi Top (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and she bids to better the third placing of her half-sister Izzi Top (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) four years ago.
Meon Valley Stud's Mark Weinfeld commented, “To have another contender for the Investec Oaks is a great position to be in. I think Jazzi Top and Izzi Top are fairly similar types, excepting that Izzi Top liked some cut in the ground, whereas Jazzi seems happy on all surfaces. We don't really know how good Jazzi Top is, but she won an Oaks trial so is entitled to take her chance. Even the best filly on the day needs luck in running in what can be a tough-and-rough race.”

Over To Jack…
Aside from Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and the Ballydoyle trio, Ireland is also represented by a filly worthy of maximum respect in Gerard Byrne's Jack Naylor (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}). Staying on strongly when fourth on her return in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh May 24, the bay has significant back-class having won the G3 Silver Flash S. at Leopardstown in July and beaten Legatissimo and Together Forever under a subsequent five-pound penalty in the Listed Flame of Tara S. also at The Curragh in August. “I've been very happy with her since the Guineas,” commented Jessica Harrington, who would become the first female trainer to win this race. “I haven't done a lot with her, she's just had two nice breezes. I thought the Guineas would bring her on and it looks like it has. She was good over a mile, but stepping up in trip should be a help to her. You never know with fillies, it just depends how good they are on the day, but we've beaten a couple of the others before and we're looking forward to it.”
Luca Cumani has yet to win this race, but supplies another with valid claims in Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Lady of Dubai (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Successful in the Listed Height of Fashion S. over 10 furlongs at Goodwood last time May 21, she bids to emulate that race's recent winners Love Divine (GB) (Diesis {GB}) and Snow Fairy (Ire) (Intikhab) in following up here. “She couldn't have done it any easier and as it was on a tricky course like Goodwood, it bodes well for her ability to handle Epsom,” her trainer said. “She's a beautifully bred and very well-balanced filly and she's entitled to take her place in a year in which the Classic is quite open.” Ralph Beckett has already won two renewals since 2008, but relies on a maiden this time in the May 9 Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial runner-up Bellajeu (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}). “Bellajeu has been training well since Lingfield and I am happy with her condition and how she is looking,” Beckett said. “I wouldn't say we are tilting at windmills, but she is still a maiden and we are coming off only a placed effort in the Lingfield Trial. Having said that, I think she is still coming forward and it's worth a shot.”