The Lowdown: Betfred Oaks

By Adam Houghton and Brian Sheerin

A royal runner in this fillies' Classic at a meeting which her late breeder, Queen Elizabeth II, rarely missed, is just one highlight of an intriguing Oaks field. The runners range from the top-priced, seven-figure filly at Tattersalls October Book 1 to a €27,000 Goffs Autumn yearling purchase, with four smart homebreds in play as well.

CAUGHT U LOOKING (Ire)
Harzand (Ire)–Wild Mix (GB), by Mastercraftsman (Ire)

Bred by Peter Kelly, she was sold by The Castlebridge Consignment for €27,000 to Peter Nolan and Noel Meade at the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale. However, Kelly remained involved in the ownership of the filly, along with Tally Ho-Stud's Tony O'Callaghan, who bought into her after the sale.

Caught U Looking gained plenty of experience last year and has always shaped as though she would do even better when upped to 1m4f. Everything in her pedigree suggests she will be at her best when stepping up to the Oaks trip and maybe even beyond that. Not only did her granddam win over 1m4f, but she is also a half-sister to High Accolade (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}), who finished second in the St Leger. There is no doubt that Caught U Looking rates as one of the more interesting outsiders and is one to keep onside at a big price despite the fact that she was held by Ezeliya when fourth on her return in the G3 Salsabil S. at Naas. 

DANCE SEQUENCE (GB)
Dubawi (Ire)–Tearless (GB), by Street Cry (Ire)

This Godolphin homebred has always been held in high regard and was not disgraced in the 1,000 Guineas when turning the tables on her Nell Gwyn conqueror Pretty Crystal (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), albeit well-held in ninth. She is a half-sister to smart 7f performer Romantic Song (Ire) (Shamardal) and solid stayer New Comedy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Her dam was something of a slow burner who won a Listed race over a mile and also tasted victory over 1m2f, while granddam Playful Act (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), a three-part-sister to Nathaniel (Ire) and Irish Oaks winner Great Heavens (GB), won the Lancashire Oaks before finishing second in the Irish Oaks. Dance Sequence is an undoubtedly classy filly who represents top connections and could well feature if handling this step up in trip.

EZELIYA (FR)
Dubawi (Ire)–Eziyra (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire})

The Aga Khan homebred opened her account at the second attempt as a two-year-old, before returning from seven months off with a determined victory in the G3 Salsabil S.

She is the second winner from as many runners out of her G2 Blandford S.-winning dam, who was also Group 1-placed on multiple occasions. Her Listed-placed granddam, Eytarna (Ire) (Dubai Destination), produced a total of four black-type performers and is related to G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Prix Royal-Oak heroine Ebadiyla (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), G1 Moyglare Stud S. victrix Edabiya (Ire) (Rainbow Quest) and G1 Gold Cup winners Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) and Enzeli (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}).

FOREST FAIRY (IRE)
Waldgeist (GB)–Bahama Girl (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire})

Bred by Philip and Orla Hore, she sold to bloodstock agent Alex Elliott and trainer Ralph Beckett for €78,000 as a Goffs Orby yearling.

This filly is unbeaten in two starts having followed her wide-margin debut victory at Wolverhampton with a gutsy success in the Listed Cheshire Oaks, becoming the first stakes winner for her sire in the process. She is the first foal out of a granddaughter of the G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Grosser Preis von Baden heroine Borgia (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}), whose daughter Born Wild (Ger) (Sadler's Wells) produced the G1 Prix Vermeille winner Baltic Baroness (Ger) (Shamardal).

MAKING DREAMS (Ire)
(Make Believe {GB})–Sweet Dream (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)

Bred by the Morera Partnership, Making Dreams was bought by Nick Bradley and Karl Burke for 33,000gns at the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale. She was consigned by Manor Farm.

A battle-hardened filly who has made remarkable strides considering she was beaten in a seller at Chester on her third start as a juvenile, and it wouldn't be a big surprise if Making Dreams were to out-run her odds again. She is the fifth foal out of Sweet Dreams, who won a maiden at two but was well held in the Cheshire Oaks and failed to reach the frame in three starts as a three-year-old. However, Sweet Dreams is a half-sister to three individual winners, including the classy Tidespring (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), who became the dam of Group 2-winning stayer Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}). Meanwhile, her other half-sister Loveisthehigherlaw (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) won a Listed race in Germany over 1m3f. While she was held by War Chimes in the Prix Saint-Alary and is unproven over this trip, Making Dreams boasts a likeable profile and shouldn't be underestimated.

RUBIES ARE RED (IRE)
Galileo (Ire)–Red Evie (Ire) (Intikhab)

The Coolmore homebred is still a maiden after three starts but thoroughly deserving of her place in the field, having caught the eye when finishing a never-nearer second in the Listed Oaks Trial Fillies' S. at Lingfield.

She is the fifth black-type performer by Galileo out of the G1 Matron S. and G1 Lockinge S. winner Red Evie, with the others including the GI Breeders' Cup Turf and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Found (Ire) and the G3 Give Thanks S. scorer Best In The World (Ire), perhaps best known as the dam of Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who numbered this Classic among her three Group 1 victories in 2021.

SEAWARD (Ire)
(Sea The Stars {Ire})–Zvarkhova (Fr), by Makfi (GB)

Offered by her breeder Loughtown Stud at the Goffs Orby Sale, Seaward was knocked down to Hugo Merry for €460,000.

Held by her stablemate Forest Fairy in the Cheshire Oaks but she is an unexposed type who represents a stable with an excellent record in this race. Her dam is a half-sister to classy handicapper GM Hopkins (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and was Listed-placed in France before winning in America. Family goes back to 2,000 Guineas winner Mark Of Esteem (Ire).

SECRET SATIRE (GB)
Advertise (GB)–Secret Pursuit (Ire) (Lawman {Fr})

Guy Brook's homebred has stamina to prove but impressed with the turn of foot she showed when causing an upset in the G3 Musidora S., beating the subsequent Listed winner Francophone (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}) by two lengths.

A first Group 1 runner for Advertise, she is the fourth winner from as many runners out of her Listed-winning dam, with the others including the Listed-placed Secret Solace (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}). Her second dam, Secret Melody (Fr) (Inchinor {GB}), won the G3 Oppenheim-Stuten-Meile and has also produced the G3 Prix des Chenes and G3 Prix du Palais-Royal hero Pearl Flute (Ire) (Piccolo {GB}), while her fourth dam, Secret Form (GB) (Formidable), won the Prix de l'Opera when it was run as a Group 2 and was runner-up in both the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane.

TREASURE (GB)
Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Shimmering Light (GB), by Dubawi (Ire)

Treasure, bred by Queen Elizabeth II and raced by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, boasts a big pedigree despite the fact that her dam failed to win in eight starts. Shimmering Light is a half-sister to eight individual winners, five of which achieved ratings in excess of 100.The include Wavering (Ire) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}), who won the G1 Prix Saint-Alary, while another half-sister, Winters Moon (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), was Group 1-placed herself before becoming the dam of multiple Group 1 winner and exciting first-season sire Earthlight (Ire). Treasure won her only start at two and shaped like a lovely filly for the future when fourth to stablemate You Got To Me in the Lingfield Oaks Trial.

WAR CHIMES
(Summer Front)–Chipolata (Fr), by Muhtathir (GB)

Bred by Nicolas Clement, Hubert Honore and Christophe Clement, War Chimes was bought by her trainer David Menuisier for €62,000 when offered by Haras des Capucines at the October Yearling Sale at Arqana.

War Chimes won't lack fitness having run twice already this season but she failed to land a blow in a Group 2 event in France last time and her overall form leaves her with work to do. She is the first foal out of a dual winner in France over 6f and 7f respectively and the pedigree goes back to the prolific Chipiron (Fr) (Rio De La Plata), who won 10 times between 1m4f and 1m7f. Has a preference for soft ground, so the more rain the better.

YLANG YLANG (GB)
Frankel (GB)–Shambolic (Ire) (Shamardal)

Bred by Newsells Park Stud and Merry Fox Stud, she was the most expensive filly at Tattersalls October Book 1 when selling to MV Magnier and White Birch Farm for 1,500,000gns.

Successful in the G1 Fillies' Mile and G3 Silver Flash S. as a two-year-old, she ran the perfect Oaks trial when finishing a staying-on fifth in the G1 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket on her return to action.

She is the first foal out of her Listed-placed dam, a half-sister to the dual G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup hero and multiple Hong Kong champion Viva Pataca (GB) (Marju {Ire}), who raced as Comic Strip when trained in Newmarket by Sir Mark Prescott. She is also related to the GI Flower Bowl Invitational and GI Diana S. heroine Laughing (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and to the dam of the Listed scorer and G3 Lillie Langtry S.-placed Twitch (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}). The family includes the multiple graded-stakes scorer and sire Brave Act (GB), while the fourth dam is the champion two-year-old filly Circus Ring (Ire) (High Top {Ire}).

YOU GOT TO ME (GB)
Nathaniel (Ire)–Brushing (GB) (Medicean {GB})

Bred by Dullingham Park Stud and Sarabex, she first sold to BBA Ireland for 62,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale. She was later bought by Alex Elliott for 200,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1.

This filly showed a good attitude when holding off Rubies Are Red to win the Lingfield Oaks Trial, racing clear for much of the race and digging deep when challenged in the straight. Her Listed-winning dam hails from the family of the GII Bay Meadows H. winner Wait Till Monday (Ire) (Maelstrom lake {Ire}), the G3 C. L. Weld Park S. winner Token Gesture (Ire) (Alzao) – who is in turn the dam of the GI Canadian International hero Relaxed Gesture (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) – and the GII All American Derby winner Evolving Tactics (Ire) (Machiavellian).