Epsom Oaks

Epsom Downs Racecourse has announced the introduction of the Lester Piggott Handicap S. on Derby Day, to be run in memory of the legendary jockey who died a year ago at the age of 86. Frankie Dettori will lay a wreath at Piggott's commemorative statue on Saturday. "It is an honour to be asked to lay a wreath at Lester's statue on Derby Day," Dettori said. "He was a hero of mine who then became a good friend and it's impossible to measure the impact he had on me, both as...

Kenny McPeek has backed impressive Cheshire Oaks winner Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to fulfill her destiny at Epsom next month and revealed that he will be watching how the Aidan O'Brien-trained filly's career develops with interest.  It was in 2017 when the US-based trainer concocted a daring plan to take on the best middle-distance fillies in Europe with Daddys Lil Darling (Scat Daddy), the dam of the new short-priced Betfred Oaks winner Savethelastdance.  However, Daddys Lil Darling did not get the opportunity to show how good she was to the...

A giant mural celebrating champion jockey Frankie Dettori's remarkable 40-year career was unveiled by Epsom Downs Racecourse on Tuesday. The 52ft by 23ft art installation is located on the side of the Duchess Stand and depicts him in the colours of his 2015 G1 Derby winner Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}). "It was a big surprise," Dettori said. "I was quite embarrassed when I first saw it, actually. I love it. It is amazing, I'm gobsmacked, really. It's the young me and the older me. It was my biggest...

It hasn't been done in over 25 years, but Cazoo Oaks heroine Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) could bid to become the first filly since Balanchine (Storm Bird {Can}) in 1994 to win the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on Saturday, her trainer Aidan O'Brien has revealed. Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who many believed was the ace in O'Brien's three-year-old pack, was sidelined shortly after finishing third in the 2000 Guineas and, after drawing a blank in the Derby, the master of Ballydoyle admitted that he may yet turn to the...

It was a pretty quiet racing week here, so this installment of snippets is a little European-centric. We hope you find it interesting. The Mind Boggles... Tuesday's win in the G1 Cazoo Oaks at Epsom gave Aidan O'Brien a record 41st British Classic winner, including 10 wins in the Oaks. Tuesday was also the 94th Group 1 winner for her sire, Galileo and the second Oaks heroine and third Classic winner for her dam, Lillie Langtry (following Minding and Empress Josephine). Coolmore/Ballydoyle's stats never cease to amaze. Pletch Being Pletch......

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...

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...

Already an emphatic winner of the G1 1000 Guineas, Coolmore's Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) entered elite territory on Saturday with a nine-length romp in the G1 Investec Oaks at Epsom. While not quite in the arena of the 12-length 1983 heroine Sun Princess (GB), this winning margin equalled that of the 1996 heroine Lady Carla (GB) (Caerleon) and there have been only four fillies in this race's history to have won by further. Settled behind a duo among the main six-strong group racing adrift of the runaway pacemakers Tiempo Vuela...

Saturday sees racing continue its measured defiance of the chaos around the globe, with the 241st renewal of one of the beautiful races, the G1 Investec Derby, emanating light as a beacon to the world's audience from its traditional home of Epsom Downs in Surrey. As it is, this will likely be the only post-Royal Ascot one, which adds a fascinating new dimension to a dramatically purse-reduced renewal and also to the stage-sharing G1 Investec Oaks. Due to the vagaries of the current situation, only one of the 24 colts...

G1 Investec Derby AMHRAN NA BHFIANN (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}-Alluring Park {Ire}, by Green Desert) The lightly raced Amhran Na Bhfiann is looking to break his maiden in this ambitious spot, and the Lodge Park Stud-bred, 1.3-million gns yearling has Classic capability on pedigree, being a full-brother to the likewise Coolmore campaigned G1 Investec Oaks winner Was (Ire) and the G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial winner Douglas Macarthur (Ire). The listed-placed dam Alluring Park has also produced the listed-winning Janood (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) and the dual Group 3-placed Al Naamah (Ire)...

Bjorn Nielsen's English King (Fr) (Camelot), winner of Lingfield's Listed Derby Trial and ante-post favourite for Saturday's £500,000 G1 241st Investec Derby, will depart from the dreaded stall one after heading a field of 16 declarations for Epsom's Blue Riband. Qatar Racing's G1 2000 Guineas hero Kameko (Kitten's Joy) has been allocated gate 11, while Aidan O'Brien's team of six includes G1 Futurity Trophy fourth Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and G3 Hampton Court S. victor Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who are drawn two and six respectively. Ryan Moore will...

Aidan O'Brien is likely to split his 1000 Guineas winners Peaceful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), with the former, the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner, pencilled in for Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane and the latter, the G1 1000 Guineas winner, likely for the G1 Investec Oaks on July 4. "I was talking to the lads [John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor] this morning and it looks like Love, Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Ennistymon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will go to Epsom," said O'Brien. "Peaceful might...