GET on board the ‘Soul’ train and back SOUL SISTER and Frankie Dettori to thwart favourite Savethelastdance in the Betfred Oaks (4.30) at Epsom this afternoon.
Dettori’s farewell tour is going with a bang and the legendary jockey has strong claims on another Classic in his final year.
The winner of a Doncaster maiden last October on her sole start at two, Frankel’s daughter bombed out when last of 12 in the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury in April.
But that race was run on soft ground, and the John and Thady Gosden trainee was a different proposition on a faster playing surface in York’s Group 3 Musidora Stakes 16 days ago.
Restrained by Dettori during the early exchanges, Soul Sister powered through on the run to the final furlong to put four lengths between herself and runner-up Novakai with Sea Of Roses back in fifth.
Both her finishing effort and her pedigree suggest a first attempt at a mile and a half will see my selection in an even better light, and Soul Sister has any amount of untapped potential to draw upon as she steps up to the top level.
Savethelastdance has been at the head of the Oaks market since bludgeoning her rivals by 22 lengths in the Listed Cheshire Oaks at Chester last month.
A reproduction of that form would make Aidan O’Brien’s daughter of Galileo hard to beat, but the ground on the Roodee was hock deep and Ryan Moore’s mount must prove her worth on faster conditions today.
Eternal Hope has been supplemented on the back of her Lingfield Oaks Trial success and Charlie Appleby’s improver looks best of those on offer at double-figure odds.
Betfred Oaks horse-by-horse guide
BE HAPPY A O’Brien S Heffernan
Swamped for speed by Eternal Hope in Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial last time out and hard to see her turning the tables.
BRIGHT DIAMOND K Burke C Lee
High-class juvenile form but behind Eternal Hope and Be Happy when fifth in Lingfield Oaks Trial so plenty on her plate.
CAERNARFON J Channon C Beasley
Ran on well to take fourth, beaten 10¼l, in 1,000 Guineas and capable of outrunning odds now upped in trip.
ETERNAL HOPE C Appleby W Buick
Lingfield Oaks Trial heroine has come a long way since making her racecourse debut in February – and plenty more to come.
HEARTACHE TONIGHT D Menuisier C Demuro
Half-sister to stable’s Group 1 winner Wonderful Tonight should thrive for a mile and a half – but soft ground would help.
MAMAN JOON R Hannon K Stott
Expensive yearling showed promise with belated debut second at Newbury in April, but this is an altogether different kettle of fish.
RED RIDING HOOD A O’Brien W Lordan
Made heavy weather of landing Dundalk maiden before blinkered third in Group 3 Blue Wind Stakes at Naas and up against it.
RUNNING LION J&T Gosden O Murphy
Impressive winner of Listed Pretty Polly Stakes rivals at Newmarket but a mile and a half could stretch her stamina.
SAVETHELASTDANCE A O’Brien R Moore
Relished soft ground to lift the Listed Cheshire Oaks by 22 lengths and hard to beat if as effective on today’s faster terrain.
SEA OF ROSES A Balding R Hornby
Beaten in two starts at Group 3 level, including when fifth to Soul Sister in York’s Musidora Stakes, and easily opposed.
SOUL SISTER J&T Gosden F Dettori
Bounced back to form on fast ground for four-length Musidora Stakes win last time and rates a big danger to all.
FRIDAY TIPS
CARLISLE
1.10 BULLS AYE
1.40 KYLIAN
2.15 MAY BLOSSOM
2.50 B ASSOCIATES
3.25 LITTLE RED DANCER
4.05 SLIPPIN JIMMY
4.45 LA FEILE
5.16 TWO AULD PALS
CHEPSTOW
1.20 TICKET TO ALASKA
1.50 CHELSEA SQUARE
2.25 JACQUELINA
3.00 CONNIE’S ROSE
3.35 DUNDORY
4.15 VAGUELY ROYAL
4.50 IN THE TRENCHES
EPSOM
2.00 BOBSLEIGH
2.35 ORBAAN (NAP)
3.10 WESTOVER
3.45 MAJESTIC
4.30 SOUL SISTER (NB)
5.10 HOLGUIN
5.45 SPANISH STAR
DONCASTER
5.05 WADI BANI
5.40 EMBESTO
6.15 LA TRINIDAD
6.45 AIMERIC
7.15 PERFUSE
7.45 VENTURA EXPRESS
8.15 BRAVURA
8.50 BOOKMARK
STRATFORD
5.35 MAGIC SAINT
6.05 SHANTOU FLYER
6.35 SINE NOMINE
7.05 SECRET INVESTOR
7.35 I K BRUNEL
8.05 RALEAGH FLORA
8.40 OLD GOLD
CATTERICK BRIDGE
5.55 GOLDEN GAL
6.25 LADY PINK ROSE
6.55 SCOTTISH DANCER
7.25 LE BEAU GARCON
7.55 EAGLE EYED FREDDIE
8.25 ELUSIVE ANGEL
9.00 FORESEEABLE FUTURE
DOUBLE: ORBAAN and SOUL SISTER
