{"id":4327,"date":"2007-06-07T12:18:32","date_gmt":"2007-06-07T12:18:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=4327"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","slug":"oldbtb_1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=4327","title":{"rendered":"The Oaks De English"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><SPAN style=\"mso-tab-count: 1\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The eyes of the racing world will be on Epsom this weekend when it plays hosts to two of the Sim\u2019s great races, The Derby De English and Oaks De English.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The colts and fillies will be greeted by sunny skies at Epsom and the track looks to be in top order and shouldn\u2019t disadvantage any of the runners.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>This is the 7<SUP>th<\/SUP> running of the Oaks De English and the time standard is jointly owned by Surf The Turf, Saddle Up Partner and La Pata Daisy at 2:31 and 3\/5ths.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = \"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags\" \/><st1:City w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Adelaide<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> and Sydney Oaks are the traditional lead up races for the Oaks De English with all but Weinerschnitzel, who won in 2004, coming through one of these races.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In fact every winner, other than Weinerschnitzel, has won or placed in either the <st1:City w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Adelaide<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> or Sydney Oaks so it will be a big ask for any filly that has not come through one of these races to win on Saturday. <SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0<\/SPAN>Let\u2019s have a closer look at the fillies that will try to add their name to the history book this weekend.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = \"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office\" \/><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>1.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>SISSON\u2019S MINER 9\/1 <\/SPAN><\/B><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>(taztiger)<\/SPAN><\/I><SPAN lang=EN-AU>&#8211;<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Comes into Saturday\u2019s race off a strong win in the Oak\u2019s Trial stakes over 11fl run in week 3217.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>This was her first run above 9 furlongs and she relished the extra distance coming from last in the small field, 14lengths from the leader to round the field up and post a commanding 2 \u00bd length victory.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She had put the writing on the wall with a win in a stakes over 9fl and a 3<SUP>rd<\/SUP> place at Gr III level in her previous 2 runs, ratting home from near last in both races.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>J Hensen will be in the saddle on Saturday and he is having a good year, winning at a tick over 12%.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He has yet to have any success in the Oaks and will be hoping that Sisson\u2019s Miner will be the horse to turn that around.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><SPAN style=\"mso-tab-count: 1\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I like Sisson\u2019s Miner this weekend.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>My only concern is that taztiger has taken an unorthodox leadup into the Oaks and she is facing a sharp rise in class.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>However in saying that I think she is definitely a filly on the up and should run the trip out, which is half the battle. Look for her to drop right out during the race and then circle the field as the leaders begin to tire. <\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>2.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>TILT A WHIRL 40\/1 <\/SPAN><\/B><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>(losthecode)<\/SPAN><\/I><SPAN lang=EN-AU>&#8211;<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Tilt A Whirl only broke her maiden status 2 starts back at her 9<SUP>th<\/SUP> attempt, dismantling a full field over 11fl on the grass.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Then to prove it was no fluke she came out and won at Stakes level in a small 4 horse field at Epsom.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>While it took her some time to find her feet it was no coincidence that her victories came once she was stepped up to the mile and a half and her combined winning margins for the 2 races was an impressive 11 lengths.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Her biggest obstacle and query this weekend is the class factor, although she was impressive in her last two outings she is yet to break 90 and stepping from maiden company to Gr I classic company in the space of 2 runs is a big ask, especially for a filly that took over a year to break her maiden.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><SPAN style=\"mso-tab-count: 1\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>K Bedwell is the jockey engaged to help her make this jump and while he is having a solid year with 6 winners from 49 mounts he will be hoping to better his 8<SUP>th<\/SUP> in the Oaks from 2005, which is his best result to date. <\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>3.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>GRAND TEMPTATION 11\/1 <\/SPAN><\/B><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>(stayirish) &#8211;<\/SPAN><\/I><SPAN lang=EN-AU> Grand Temptation is another horse that has progressed rapidly this year as the distances for fillies has stepped up.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She booked her date for the Oaks with impressive victories in her previous two races at Stakes level.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Last time out in the Arousa Challenge over 11fl she sat off the pace and then came with a strong burst from mid race to take victory, accounting for Danzig Theatre and Rock Hill Reef, who she meets again today.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She really stamped herself as an Oaks contender with that win, posting a SP of 96 in the process and she is bred to run all day being by Grandera out of a Sadler\u2019s Wells mare.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><SPAN style=\"mso-tab-count: 1\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Stayirish has decided to stick by out of form jock J Plumber who is having a lean year, winning at just 6.8% but he does know what is needed in the Oaks after riding Kid Thunder to a solid 5<SUP>th<\/SUP> last year. <\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><SPAN style=\"mso-tab-count: 1\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Grand Temptation is another filly on the up that is testing the water for the first time at this level.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has posted two very good wins and if she handles the class rise should be thereabouts for a slice of the purse.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>4.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>DANZIG THEATRE 10\/1<\/SPAN><\/B><SPAN lang=EN-AU> <I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">(wabred1)<\/I> \u2013 In what is an impressive training performance Danzig Theatre is the first of two runners for wabred1, part of the Snappa racing stables.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She is coming into Saturday\u2019s race off some solid runs over 11fl including a second placing last time out to Grand Temptation in the Arousa Challenge.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has been consistent at Stakes level around the mile and a half without breaking through and it is hard to see her making that break through in tougher company this weekend.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In her favour she is fit and running consistent times with Sp\u2019s in the 90\u2019s which she only needs to repeat here to feature in the money.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><SPAN style=\"mso-tab-count: 1\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>R Poulin will be the jockey this Saturday and he is going well this year with 9 winners from 72 rides but he will need to improve on his two previous rides in the Oaks where he finished 9<SUP>th<\/SUP> and 7<SUP>th<\/SUP> in 2006 and 2005 respectively.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>5.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:PlaceType w:st=\"on\">DESERT<\/st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType w:st=\"on\">HEIGHTS<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place> 11\/1 <\/SPAN><\/B><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>(stalmanu3)<\/SPAN><\/I><SPAN lang=EN-AU> \u2013 Multiple Gr I placed daughter of Galileo who last raced in the Sydney Oaks.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In that race she sat midfield for much of the race about 6 lengths off the leader but when the jockey asked her to quicken she was flat to the boards and just whacked away for an even 6<SUP>th<\/SUP>, 6 and \u00bc lengths behind the winner.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Previous to that she showed plenty of grit to place in the Gr I How Are You Gentlemen Cup over 8.5fl behind Dahliyev.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>So the question is- was it her fitness that gave out in the Sydney Oaks, with a lack of mile and a quarter racing under her belt or did she not stay the trip?<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Her breeding would suggest she should get 12fl\u2019s easily but her brilliance over the mile puts a big question mark over her ability to run the classic distance.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><SPAN style=\"mso-tab-count: 1\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Q Addleman is the jockey that will try and hold her together on Saturday and he will be trying to snap a terrible year that has yielded just 2 wins at 3.6%.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>On the plus side he did finish 2<SUP>nd<\/SUP> on the tear away leader King\u2019s Pye in \u201903 so he does know how to rate a filly for the classic<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>6.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>WANG CHUNG 9\/1 <\/SPAN><\/B><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>(super3)<\/SPAN><\/I><SPAN lang=EN-AU> \u2013 From the super conglomerate comes the Gr III daughter of Beat Hollow, Wang Chung.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She notched up her sole graded win in January when she accounted for a handy field in the Pan Handle Park Oaks over 8.5fl.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Since then she has raced exclusively in stakes or graded company over 8-9 furlongs, registering 2 more placings at graded level.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The query on Saturday is the distance, we know she has the class but will she stay the trip?<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>My gut feeling is no.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A filly that is brilliant enough to win in graded company over the mile trip is rarely able to keep that brilliance going over the 12 panels.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Adding to the concern is her dam who was an accomplished he-male that won at graded level up to 8 furlongs but failed in his sole trip above a mile and quarter.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><SPAN style=\"mso-tab-count: 1\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Wang Chung should sit on the pace this weekend and C Crawford will be the jockey in the saddle, trying to stretch every last ounce of strength out of her.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He is having a good year winning at 13% but is yet to have much success in the Oaks, scoring a solitary 11<SUP>th<\/SUP> in \u201904 in his only ride to date.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>7.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>GHOSTHORSE 19\/1 <\/SPAN><\/B><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>(bestobene)<\/SPAN><\/I><SPAN lang=EN-AU> \u2013 From the 7 gate we have Ghosthorse, a stakes winning daughter of North Light.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>This filly has the type of form needed to win an Oaks De English.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In her last run, The Sydney Oaks, she led the field for most of the race before being passed by Derockery down the stretch; however she was still strong enough to fight on for 2<SUP>nd<\/SUP>.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>That was her first run pass 9fl and she should derive a lot of benefit from the experience and some fitness.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>There doesn\u2019t appear to be a wealth of speed on her inside so she should find the rail fairly easily and could prove hard to haul in down the stretch.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><SPAN style=\"mso-tab-count: 1\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>One of Epsom\u2019s finest, J Diggs has been confirmed as the rider and he continues to do well, currently sitting 4<SUP>th<\/SUP> on the premiership ladder with 23 wins for the season.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He also has probably the best record in the Oaks of any jockey, winning in \u201902, placing 2<SUP>nd<\/SUP> in \u201906 and finishing 4<SUP>th<\/SUP> in \u201903 and \u201904.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>8.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>DAHLIYEV 9\/1 <\/SPAN><\/B><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>(chelseydek)<\/SPAN><\/I><SPAN lang=EN-AU> \u2013 Next in the line we have the Gr I winning daughter of Cryptoclearance, Dahliyev.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She is currently ranked number 2 in the route category after notching a victory in the Gr I How Are You Gentlemen Cup and placings in the Train Yard Special and Breeders Bowl Juvenile Turf Filly.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She last raced in the 1000 <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guineas<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> but put in an uncharacteristically poor performance in that day to trail the field in last and it is probably best to overlook that run as she is a far better filly than that.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Like a few of the other fillies here the big question mark is whether she can get the distance and like the others I seriously doubt it.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>As we noted in the race history the Oaks is usually won by a filly that has already shown form over the journey, in particular the Sydney or Adelaide Oaks.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It would be an extraordinary effort for a filly to be brilliant enough to just miss in the Breeders Bowl as a 2yo then come out the following year and annex the Oaks De English, in fact it would be unheard of but if any filly is going to do it Dahliyev is as good a chance as any.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><SPAN style=\"mso-tab-count: 1\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Aiding her cause is the fact that chelseydek was able to book T Nugent for the ride who currently sits 2<SUP>nd<\/SUP> on the jockey\u2019s ladder with 53 wins for the year.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He will be striving to add the Oaks to his impressive resume as he is yet to win the race with a 2<SUP>nd<\/SUP> placing in \u201904 his best performance to date.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>9.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>SET THE CLOCK 5\/1 <\/SPAN><\/B><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>(deantroops)<\/SPAN><\/I><SPAN lang=EN-AU> \u2013 Our morning line favourite Set The Clock will jump from 9 and she is another daughter of boom sire Mineshaft.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It is very hard to line her form up against the other fillies here as she has walked a very different and unusual road to the Oaks.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>3 starts back she trounced the boys in a weak 4 horse stakes race over 9.5fl but she did win by 6 lengths and recorded a very solid Sp of 95.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>For her next assignment she not only stepped up to open company but also raced against older horses in the Gr III Long Legged Handicap and performed extraordinarily well, given the time of the year, snatching 4<SUP>th<\/SUP> and again registering a very strong Sp of 99 over the 10fl journey.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Its not surprising after that huge performance she came back a notch last time out in the Gr II Full Moon Handicap over 9fl but she was still able to snare 3<SUP>rd<\/SUP> behind the form filly Derockery.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><SPAN style=\"mso-tab-count: 1\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I have my doubts over her ability to run 12 furlongs and I certainly wouldn\u2019t be taking the 5\/1 but if she can reproduce something like her Long Legged Handicap performance against older horses 2 starts back she will be very tough to beat.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>C Jericho will be in the saddle on Saturday and he is a bit below his best this year with just the 7 wins but he is certainly familiar with this race after riding in all 6 previous running\u2019s and placing in \u201901 and \u201902.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>10.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>HURRICANE OCCY 10\/1 <\/SPAN><\/B><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>(wabred1)<\/SPAN><\/I><SPAN lang=EN-AU> \u2013 From the 10 post we have Snappa\u2019s second runner Hurricane Occy, a two time graded placed daughter of champion racehorse Octagonal.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has shown plenty of improvement this year since switching to the turf, registering an allowance and stakes victory at 8 and 9fl before placing 3<SUP>rd<\/SUP> in the Gr II Storm Dog Stakes over 8.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Her last run was in the Adelaide Oaks where she ran a nice 3<SUP>rd<\/SUP> but finished some 9 lengths behind the winner Kneel Before Zod, who she meets again this week.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She will push forward and race just behind the pace again this weekend and should give a good honest account of herself but it is hard to see her turning the tables on the Adelaide Oaks winner.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><SPAN style=\"mso-tab-count: 1\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>B Christopher is the man tasked with formulating a plan to undo Kneel Before Zod and he has had plenty of success this year, booting home 7 winners at 12.3%.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He also has a 100% strike rate in the Oaks after kicking home La Pata Daisy in 2005 in his only ride in the classic.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>11.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>THE DEUCE 12\/1 <\/SPAN><\/B><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>(fairhaven3)<\/SPAN><\/I><SPAN lang=EN-AU> \u2013 From the huge lenny empire we have the up and coming daughter of Gone West, The Deuce.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She is one of a handful of filly\u2019s that has the form and credentials you would look for and expect of an Oaks De English winner.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She was an easy winner 2 back in an overnight stakes race over 11 furlongs before running a great race last time out, placing 2<SUP>nd<\/SUP> in the Adelaide Oaks behind Kneel Before Zod.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She raced right on the pace in that race before booting away as they entered the stretch and it was only the eventual winner that took any significant ground off her down the stretch.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She was far from disgraced in that race and if she has gained some fitness since then she will prove hard to peg back down the long Epsom straight.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><SPAN style=\"mso-tab-count: 1\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Look for her to push forward again this weekend and probably sit just outside Ghosthorse before upping the tempo as they come to the final bend.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>One of Epsom\u2019s best in A Edwards has the riding responsibilities and he is having another profitable year, sitting 3<SUP>rd<\/SUP> on the premiership ladder with 51 wins beside his name.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He hasn\u2019t had a lot of success in the Oaks to date with a 3<SUP>rd<\/SUP> last year his only real success but The Deuce may just be the filly he breaks his duck with.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>12.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><st1:place w:st=\"on\">TARA<\/st1:place> 11\/1 <\/SPAN><\/B><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>(bredtosell)<\/SPAN><\/I><SPAN lang=EN-AU> \u2013 Tara, a daughter of Generous, is another filly that heads to Epsom after running down under in the Sydney Oaks.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She ran well in <st1:City w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Sydney<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> holding on for 3<SUP>rd<\/SUP> place after racing on the pace for most of the race.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>With the winner Derockery deciding to bypass the English Oaks it has opened the race right up for those that finished behind her in Sydney and Tara is as strong as any of those fillies.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The fillies that may trouble her here are The Deuce and Kneel Before Zod who both opted for the Adelaide Oaks and will meet the <st1:City w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Sydney<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> filly\u2019s for the first time over this journey.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><SPAN style=\"mso-tab-count: 1\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She may get caught a little wide if she pushes forward again this week and it will be up to G Montoya to get her across and near the fence over the taxing 12fl journey.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He has ridden 7 winners for the year at 13.2% but this will be his first ride in the Oaks and bredtosell will be hoping the occasion doesn\u2019t get the better of him.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>13.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><st1:City w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">ROCK HILL<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> REEF 9\/1 <\/SPAN><\/B><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>(jockeymax3)<\/SPAN><\/I><SPAN lang=EN-AU> \u2013 One of two fillies sired by Rock Hard Ten, Rock Hill Reef heads to Epsom after a 4<SUP>th<\/SUP> placing in the Sydney Oaks and a 3<SUP>rd<\/SUP> placing behind Grand Temptation and Danzig Theatre in the Arousa Stakes over 11fl.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has raced the best fillies all year without ever getting on top of them, starting with the big Gr I miles and working her way up to the staying events including her solid performance in the Sydney Oaks.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Jockeymax has tried her on the pace, from behind and midfield but no matter how she is ridden she just struggles to find that extra gear or ounce of stamina needed to knock the top fillies off.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She also seems to have missed out on the maturity boost some 3yos get around this time of year with her Sp\u2019s fairly stagnant around the 90 mark.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><SPAN style=\"mso-tab-count: 1\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In saying all of that she is a very consistent filly and it would be a surprise if she didn\u2019t compete well again on Saturday and finish in the first half of the field.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>J Ross will be in the stirrups this week and whilst the Oaks hasn\u2019t been a great race for him, he is having another good year with 9 winners to his name at 10.2%<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>14.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>KNEEL BEFORE ZOD 7\/1 <\/SPAN><\/B><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>(willyam40)<\/SPAN><\/I><SPAN lang=EN-AU> \u2013 From the extreme outside post we have the Adelaide Oaks winner Kneel Before Zod, a daughter of Rock Hard Ten.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She surprised a lot of people that day as her form leading up to the Oaks, although solid, did not have Oaks written all over it.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She had won a moderate stakes race over 8.5fl in her previous race after running 2<SUP>nd<\/SUP> in an allowance over 9.5fl.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>But all of that did not matter on the day where she simply outstayed the rest of the field in the Oaks and went on to post a commanding victory by 2 and \u00bd lengths.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>With the Sydney Oaks winner Derockery not entered for the Oaks De English Kneel Before Zod is the only graded winner over 12 fl in the field and she has an undeniable chance to win her second Oaks for the season and push for divisional honours.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><SPAN style=\"mso-tab-count: 1\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>If that wasn\u2019t enough to convince you that this girl is going to be awfully hard to hold out, Epsom\u2019s top jock and last year\u2019s winning rider R Harzheim will be aboard the dashing filly this Saturday.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He really is a superstar over here and is 1 race short of posting 100 for the season, an amazing 46 wins ahead of his nearest rival.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The barrier should not be too much of a concern for Harzheim as Kneel Before Zod will drop out last early and as long as she gets a smooth passage through the field when he lets her go it is hard to see the other fillies holding her out.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><SPAN style=\"mso-tab-count: 1\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It is a quality field that will line up this Saturday with no filly yet to stamp herself as the dominant force of the staying ranks this year.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>But I think Kneel Before Zod maybe the one who steps up and says \u201cThis is my year\u201d.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She was brilliant last time out in the Adelaide Oaks and that is just the type of filly that is needed to take out the English version.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I think the fillies that have proved themselves over the distance already are the ones to stick with on Saturday.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The Oaks De English is no place for a filly testing the murky waters of a mile and a half for the first time.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I think The Deuce ran a great race in the Adelaide Oaks and will really give Kneel Before Zod something to chase down.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Of the Sydney Oaks brigade I think Ghosthorse could prove the toughest.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She led for a long way that day and will derive a lot confidence from the run.<\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt\"><SPAN lang=EN-AU>Good luck to all trainers and I hope you enjoy the day.<\/SPAN><\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>14 fillies face the starter in this year&#8217;s classic staying race for fillies<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":79,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4327","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/79"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4327"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4327\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4327"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4327"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4327"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}