G1 Cazoo Oaks

A total of 46 3-year-old fillies have been entered in the G1 Cazoo Oaks and 20 horses have stood their ground for the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs on June 3. Two dozen fillies represent the home team, and John and Thady Gosden train the 2021 Cartier Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for Cheveley Park Stud. She sports three black-type wins including the G1 Fillies' Mile on Oct. 8. G3 Flame of Tara S. victress Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was unplaced in that affair for Zhang...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Juddmonte homebred Noon Star (Galileo {Ire}) has had a "temporary setback" and will not run in the G1 Cazoo Oaks on the first day of the Cazoo Derby Festival, Juddmonte Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe announced. Third on debut at Salisbury on Sept. 3, the bay graduated in a Nottingham maiden on Oct. 14 and was put away for the season. She made her 3-year-old bow with a 2 1/2-length win at Wetherby on Apr. 25 and was last seen finishing second in the G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. at York on...

Trainer Roger Varian has one colt and a trio of fillies pointing to the G1 Cazoo Derby and G1 Cazoo Oaks on June 5 and 4, respectively. However, Varian, who has only had a single Derby starter previously when second with Kingston Hill (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in 2014, is very aware of the unique challenge the Epsom Downs offers to young 3-year-olds. "I think it's a fascinating Derby," said Varian, who recently saddled his 1,000th winner. "It looks an open Derby and a very good Derby. There are a lot...

Hollie Doyle and Listed Novibet Oaks Trial Fillies' S. heroine Sherbet Lemon (Lemon Drop Kid), who races for Apple Tree Stud, will team up for the June 4 G1 Cazoo Oaks at Epsom Downs. "She's very well, and we're really looking forward to next Friday," said former NH jockey Robert 'Choc' Thornton, who manages the Apple Tree racing and stud operation for Paul Dunkley. "She's done some work--she did a gallop on Friday and she's absolutely fine. It's just a case of keeping her ticking over for the big day."...

Derby-winning trainer William Haggas is looking forward to the G1 Cazoo Derby on June 5. The trainer, who won the race 25 years ago with Shaamit (Ire) (Mtoto {GB}), has listed winner Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to take part in the Blue Riband. "The race means exactly the same as it did 25 years ago in that it's the ultimate race for an English trainer to win or to try to win," Haggas reflected. "We've thrown a few darts at it unsuccessfully and it's a very hard race to win....

Group 1 winner Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) is still pointing to the G1 Cazoo Derby over 1 1/2 miles on June 5, according to connections. The colt, who won the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud over 10 furlongs last term, ran fifth in the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. at York in mid-May. The bay also scooped the G3 Tattersalls Acomb S. at two. Charlie Johnston, son and assistant trainer to father Mark, said, "Gear Up is still Epsom bound. Although he is a 33-1 shot, I think,...

The Cazoo Derby Festival on June 4-5 and Coral-Eclipse Day on July 3 both received an increase in prize money, The Jockey Club announced on Tuesday. Limited spectators returning to racecourses, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, was cited for the increases. Held at Epsom Downs Racecourse, the Cazoo Derby Festival's purses were increased 12% across the 11 non-Group 1 races. None of the races over the two-day stand will be run for less than £40,000 and no handicaps will be worth less than £50,000. The Cazoo Derby is still worth...

Several Classic candidates for the upcoming G1 Cazoo Derby and G1 Cazoo Oaks on June 5 and June 4, respectively, took spins around Epsom Downs Racecourse on Monday morning.  Derby colts One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), representing Godolphin and Charlie Appleby and Ed Dunlop's listed winner and 'TDN Rising Star' John Leeper (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) were first-time visitors to the fabled course. The former, who won the G3 Emirates Autumn S. last October next ran second in the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S. to Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas...