Tag Archive for: Betfred Oaks

Savethelastdance steps out for scintillating Cheshire Oaks success

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Savethelastdance waltzed her way to clear Betfred Oaks favouritism with an emphatic display in the Weatherbys Digital Solutions Cheshire Oaks.

Ridden patiently at the rear of the cluster by Ryan Moore as Pam Sly’s Wintercrack led the field along, the daughter of Galileo still had plenty of work to do as Charlie Johnston’s Sirona went to tackle the front-running Wintercrack with just over three furlongs to run.

As Sirona moved to the head of the pack, Moore was making significant headway aboard the 8-11 favourite and when the Ballydoyle number one pressed the button on drawing alongside Sirona she soon left the opposition trailing in her wake to register a bloodless 22-length success in rain-softened ground.

It was Aidan O’Brien’s eighth success in the Listed event to become the most successful trainer in the Roodee feature, one ahead of Barry Hills whom he was previously locked on seven with.

Savethelastdance, meanwhile, is out of Daddys Lil Darling who famously bolted to post and was withdrawn from Enable’s Oaks in 2017, but it is hoped her daughter will fare better on the Surrey Downs with Betfair going 2-1 from 5-1 for the Epsom Classic on June 2, while Paddy Power go even shorter and make her the 13-8 favourite.

Riding his sixth winner of the race, Moore said: “I was very impressed, you can only be impressed by what she’s done there. 

“They kind of all gave up with half a mile to go and she was just getting going, but she gave me a very good feel – she’s probably given me as good a feel in this race as the ones I’ve ridden (in it before). 

“She stepped a little slow, but they went very hard early on and she just relaxed and followed them round.

“I thought I’d just make sure she knew what she had to do and she stretched all the way to the line and ran right through the line.”

O’Brien watched on from his Ballydoyle base – and was pleased with what he saw.

“We were delighted with her,” he said. “Obviously we were delighted with her in her maiden and we’ve been delighted with her since.

“Obviously it’s unusual for them to win that far, but she’s a very well-bred filly.

“She handled the ground well. I think it was soft enough the first day she won as well.

“I think she will (handle quicker ground). She’s a good moving filly, a big rangy filly and I think Ryan was very happy with her as well.

“That (Epsom) is the plan.”

Oaks option open for Caernarfon after fine Guineas effort

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Jack Channon will not rule out the possibility of running Caernarfon in the Betfred Oaks after she stayed on well to finish fourth in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday.

The daughter of Cityscape had won twice last term, signing off with success in the Listed Montrose Fillies’ Stakes over course and distance.

Having the first run of her three-year-old season in the mile Classic, Connor Beasley’s mount made up plenty of ground and was never nearer than at the finish in very testing soft ground.

Though she had no chance with winner Mawj and runner-up Tahiyra, who put over seven lengths between themselves and third-placed Matilda Picotte, Channon was more than satisfied.

“We were absolutely chuffed with her,” said the West Ilsley handler, who has this season taken over the training licence from his father, Mick.

“We knew once we had that rain, not so much that she needs soft ground, we just suspected all spring that a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half might be her optimum – that’s why we stuck her in the Oaks and the French Oaks – we thought the rain might slow it up (for others).

“It looked to be a very good race and they took six lengths out of them, three (furlongs) down, and she’s done extremely well to stay on all the way to the line.

“She has picked up two Group One-winning two-year-old fillies in the final furlong and I think it was strong form, and I was chuffed with her run.”

Caernarfon’s sire won over nine furlongs, although he was only tried once over 10, while her unraced dam is by Group One-winning sprinter Royal Applause.

However, while not bred to star over 12 furlongs, she has shown all the right signs that she could be a force, should she line up in the Epsom fillies’ Classic.

Channon added: “She could well be an Oaks filly. It is a big step up from a mile to a mile and a half, but I’ve always had the opinion that the best Oaks trial and the best Derby trial are in the Guineas’.

“She is an extremely well-balanced filly and she settles so well, which would give her every chance to stay if we wanted to try that.

“We have got her in over a mile and a quarter in France and we’ve also got her in over a mile and a half (at Epsom).

“We will probably look at one of those options close to the time, but we will see how she trains this week and see how she comes out of it first of all.”