IF THE Investec Oaks was based on past experience of the race Midday would provide Henry Cecil with a record ninth success at Epsom this afternoon.
Her two main market rivals – Sariska and Rainbow View – on the other hand are trained by Michael Bell and John Gosden respectively, who will both bid for a first success in the Fillies Classic.
But it is hard to separate the big three and all look to hold big chances of success, while the powerful Aidan O’Brien stable saddles Cheshire Oaks winner Perfect Truth.
Rainbow View was last season’s leading juvenile, unbeaten and impressive in three starts. But she disappointed when sent off a warm favourite for the stanjames.com 1,000 Guineas on her seasonal reappearance at Newmarket last month.
While the firm ground was a factor, finishing fifth now looks a fine effort by the Dyanformer filly for today’s race. She is arguably the classiest filly in today’s Group One feature and should improve markedly for the step up from a mile to 1m4f.
Gosden has been pleased with her since Newmarket and Rainbow View, at around 3-1, she must go close.
Bell’s Musidora Stakes winner Sariska is currently the market leaders and following her York success, her Newmarket trainer thinks she ‘ticks every box’.
Bell, who won the Derby with Motivator four years ago, said: “She has a fantastic pedigree and is bred to stay a mile and a half – her dam won over a mile and six. She goes left-handed and she ticks every box. What we don’t know is whether she will come downhill but provided the ground is safe she should travel very strongly in the race.
“She has a very high cruising speed and although I cannot guarantee it, I’d be pretty confident she will handle the track. It’s just a question of whether she’s good enough.”
Cecil, whose last victory in Oaks came two years ago with Light Shift, is confident Midday is in the ideal shape for this afternoon’s Classic.
The Oasis Dream filly was second to Derby-bound colt Debussy at Epsom in April, so clearly handles the unique ups and downs of the track.
But it was her impressive victory in the Lingfield Oaks Trial last month that gave notice of her Classic potential.
The Warren Place trainer knows Midday must improve to give him a ninth success in the race, but he is confident she can.
Cecil said: “At this stage I am very happy with Midday and she seems on song for Epsom. It is a difficult race to assess but I feel she has improved and must have a chance. On the Timeform figures she is rated 108 and Sariska is 116 so she is going to have to improve to prove them wrong.”
Meanwhile, all 13 horses stood their ground for tomorrow’s Investec Derby at yesterday’s final declaration stage.
John Oxx’s stanjames.com 2,000 Guineas winner Sea The Stars is expected to go off favourite and is currently a best-priced 10-3 with Sportingbet.
Sea The Stars will emerge from stall four tomorrow as he bids to become the first horse since Nashwan in 1989 to secure the Guineas and Derby double.
Oxx has slight doubts over his ability to last the 1m4f of the Epsom Classic, but he said: “He is a tremendous individual and athlete. The race (the Guineas) didn’t take anything out of him and he will progress a little bit.
“The beginning of June is quite early in the year for a horse to be mature enough to stay the distance. It is a demanding place and that is why Derby winners have been so successful over the last 200 years. You won’t win with a slow horse.
“Sea The Stars certainly has the look of a champion and is already a Guineas winner. Whether he can win the Derby as well as the Guineas is a tough call – it hasn’t been done now for 20-odd years, and Nijinsky 20 years before that. It’s a hard thing to do, but it’s worth pursuing. He’d be a great champion if he could do it.”
Sea The Star’s principal rival in the betting market, the unbeaten Fame And Glory, one of six trained by Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O’Brien has landed the ‘lucky’ stall 10.
Seven winners – Sir Percy, Galileo, Generous, Quest For Fame, Nashwan, Reference Point and Shahrastani – have all come from the same berth since 1984 and O’Brien is hoping to win the numbers game and land his third Derby following wins by Galileo and High Chaparral in 2001 and 2002.
Black Bear Island, a full brother to High Chaparral, has been allotted stall three, the same as last year’s winner New Approach and along with Rip Van Winkle, Age Of Aquarious, Masterofthehorse and Golden Sword, makes up the strong Ballydoyle squad.
