Forest Fairy (Ire)

As is often the case, the opponent that may well have Ryan Moore looking over his shoulder as he attempts to win Coolmore yet another Classic could be coming from the same stable on Friday with Aidan O'Brien readying two salvos at the G1 Betfred Oaks. While there is no disputing that on the formbook, the G1 Fillies' Mile-winning TDN Rising Star Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is the number one, there is a sense of stealthy acceleration through the ranks for the yard's regally-bred maiden Rubies Are Red (Ire)...

Twelve fillies will line up in Friday's G1 Betfred Oaks at Epsom, with Aidan O'Brien set to be represented by a duo headed by the likely favourite and TDN Rising Star Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) drawn on the outside in 12. Ryan Moore sticks with last year's G1 Fillies' Mile winner, with Wayne Lordan on the stable's Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial runner-up Rubies Are Red (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who has drawn six. Their compatriot Ezeliya (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), The Aga Khan homebred from the Dermot Weld stable who captured the...

The Coolmore partners' Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is one of five Ballydoyle fillies remaining in the G1 Betfred Oaks on May 31 after the latest entry stage. The Group 1 winner of the Fillies' Mile last October, the bay was fifth in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas for Aidan O'Brien. She could be joined by the stakes-placed Rubies Are Red (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), as well as Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas runners Opera Singer (Justify), who won the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, the dual group-placed Buttons (Ire) (Kingman...

Following the latest scratching stage, 25 fillies remain in the G1 Betfred Oaks set for Epsom Downs on Friday, May 31. The 1 1/2-mile race features 15 fillies trained in Britain, nine from Ireland one from France, with the Coolmore partners' Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in pole position and 5-2 in the wagering markets on Betfred. The G1 Fillies' Mile heroine ran fifth in the G1 1000 Guineas earlier this month. She is one of seven Aidan O'Brien trainees, with the listed-placed Rubies Are Red (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and...

Stepping up from her striking Wolverhampton debut win, Forest Fairy (Ire) (Waldgeist {GB}--Bahama Girl {Ire}, by Lope De Vega {Ire}) booked her Classic ticket with success in Wednesday's Listed Cheshire Oaks. Kept in a pocket throughout the home turn, the Ralph Beckett-trained 11-4 shot was out in time to reel in Ballydoyle's Port Fairy (Ire) (Australia {GB}) close home for a head verdict. "She did well, as she was very green still and had never been on the grass," jockey Rossa Ryan said. "She was very timid in coming out...

After the shell-shock of City Of Troy's performance in Saturday's 2000 Guineas still reverberating, the Derby has a much more open look than it did last week and so the focus on Chester's May Festival will be even keener than usual. Wednesday's G3 Boodles Chester Vase has supplied the Blue Riband hero twice since 2013 and with a record 10 successes it is clear that Aidan O'Brien has come to prioritise the trial for his Epsom hopefuls. Ryan Moore had the pick of a duo this time and has opted...