IT is five years since Aidan O’Brien won the Investec Oaks and almost double that since he landed the Derby.
But he may end those waits over the next two days. This afternoon at Epsom the Irish trainer looks to hold a big chance of rectifying the first, principally with Wonder Of Wonders, who heads a four-strong attack on the Fillies’ Classic.
O’Brien has won the Epsom Classic three times with Shahtoush (1998), Imagine (2001) and most recently Alexandrova (2006). As well as the regally-bred Wonder Of the Ballydoyle maestro also goes into battle with Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Misty For Me as well as outsiders Eirnin and Why.
The Kingmambo filly was impressive when landing the Cheshire Oaks on the twists and turns of the Roodee last month. Henry Cecil’s Light Shift, four years ago, was the most recent to win both races, when getting the better of O’Brien’s star Peeping Fawn at Epsom. Now the Irish handler is hopefulWonder Of Wonders can follow suit.
O’Brien said: “Wonder Of Wonders is a filly who is bred to do it and we were very happy with her in Chester. It would be wrong not to let her take her chance.
“We always thought Misty For Me could be an Oaks filly and the plan was always to go for the two Guineas and step her up in trip after that.
“Looking at her at the Curragh you would imagine she’ll definitely get a mile and a quarter, but you can’t be sure with a mile and a half until you run.
“It would be wrong not to let her run as well.
“Why is a filly we always thought a lot of and we always thought she was better than she ran. She has a great pedigree and she’s well.
“Eirnin is a Galileo filly we always liked as well. She won her maiden at Navan and we’d be expecting plenty of improvement from her run at Naas.
“They are very well-bred fillies and when we feel they could be good enough, we always think it is wrong not to let them take their chance.”
Today’s Oaks could be a match-up between racing’s two big powerhouses with Godolphin saddling favourite Blue Bunting against the Coolmore battalions.
Big-race rider Frankie Dettori is confident 1,000 Guineas heroine Blue Bunting can give him a fourth victory in the race.
The Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained filly’s Newmarket Classic success surprised the Italian jockey.
Dettori said: “She is the favourite and is a very nice filly, but it isn’t going to be a walk in the park.
“We expected her to run well at Newmarket but we thought she might not have enough speed to win a Guineas. She proved everybody wrong. She’s a very exciting filly and I’m looking forward to Epsom.”
EPSOM (DAY ONE PREDICTIONS): 1.40pm Timepiece, 2.10pm Start Right, 2.45pm (Investec Coronation Cup) St Nicholas Abbey, 3.25pm Right Step, 4.05pm (Investec Oaks) 1 WONDER OF WONDERS (NAP) 2 Havant 3 Blue Bunting, 4.50pm Hooray, 5.25pm Reposer.
