Godolphin runners look likely to dominate this race, with the boys
in blue responsible for both the favourite and second favourite.
It is unsure at this stage who stable jockey, Frankie Dettori, will
ride.
ALL TOO BEAUTIFUL: Bids to go one better than unlucky stablemate
Yesterday last year. She is unbeaten in two starts to date, including
a Listed success in the Salsabil Stakes over ten furlongs. She is
one of four entries from Ballydoyle.
The best bred filly in the race, she is an own sister to Galileo
and Black Sam Bellamy.
Aiden O'Brien has won the race twice before - with Shahtoush in
1998 and Imagine three years later.
BARAKA: A brilliant winner of the Lingfield Oaks Trial, beating
Bowstring by six lengths.
Another Ballydoyle entrant, she has won one of her two starts.
A daughter of Danehill, she is an own sister to Japanese champion
Fine Motion and a three parts sister to champion Pilsudski.
CRYSTAL: Another by the late, great Danehill. A one time winner
in three starts, she has a sole maiden win to her credit. The second
home that day was well beaten at his next start.
It is hard to see her winning on her current form.
One of the outsiders in the race, trainer Brian Meehan has been
talking up her chances during the last week. She is the first British
classic starter for Meehan.
HATHRAH: A good third in the English 1000 Guineas to Attraction
and Sundrop.
There was little to choose between her and Sundrop, currently second
favourite for the Oaks.
A good two year old, second to classic placed Kinnaird in the May
Hill Stakes, she won the Masaka Stakes by nine lengths on her seasonal
debut. A daughter of French champion sire, Linamix, she represents
John Dunlop.
It is unknown whether she will stay, but her female line suggests
an abundance of stamina and Linamix does get horses who stay further
than he did.
KISSES FOR ME: The outsider of the Ballydoyle quartet. If she runs
she looks to be the pacemaker for her better fancied companions.
A winner of her maiden she was well beaten in the Pretty Polly Stakes
and Irish 1000 Guineas. A daughter of Sadler's Wells, her second
dam is millionaire Sabin.
MENHOUBAH: The Italian Oaks winner. Trained by Clive Brittain, who
won this race in 1992 with User Friendly. A high class two year,
she was third in the Moyglare Stud Stakes to Necklace, whom she
meets again here. Beaten a length on that occasion, she was then
fourth in the Fillies Mile behind beaten 1000 Guineas favourite
Red Bloom. The most experienced filly in the race, she has started
five times this year already. A second to Catstar in the UAE 1000
Guineas, she was then well beaten in the Oaks. Seventh in the Derby
was followed by a close second in the Cheshire Oaks to Hidden Hope
- not entered here. A daughter of leading sire, Dixieland Band,
she hails from Zilzal and Polish Precedent's family.
NECKLACE: One of the best two year old fillies last year, she has
been disappointing in her two starts this year.
Well beaten in both the English and Irish 1000 Guineas, her pedigree
suggests she will enjoy the extra distance of the Oaks but her recent
form is not encouraging.
If she came back to her early two year old form, where she won both
the Debutante and Moyglare Stud Stakes, she would be in with a shout.
A daughter of Darshaan her dam is a three parts sister to Opera
House and Kayf Tara.
OUIJA BOARD: A brilliant six length winner of the Listed Pretty
Polly Stakes, the daughter of leading freshman sire Cape Cross,
represents Ed Dunlop. She has won twice in four career starts. The
form of the Pretty Polly looks alright as the third and second fought
the finish of a listed race next time out. Her pedigree suggests
a mile and a half might be stretching her stamina - her sire was
a top class miler by Green Desert, and her dam is by Welsh Pageant.
The family is that of Owington - by Green Desert - a top class sprinter.
PUNCTILIOUS: The current favourite. A six length winner of the Musidora
on her last start. Third in the Fillies Mile, with Sundrop a head
in front of her - there should again be little to choose between
the two of them. She finished over two lengths ahead of Menhoubah
and looks to have that filly held. Bought by Godolphin after her
two year old season, she is a daughter of Danehill and a half sister
to high class stayer, Risk Seeker. She has been beaten just once
in her career and looks the right one.
SUNDROP: Bids to give her legendary sire, Sunday Silence, his first
British classic win. An excellent half length second to unbeaten
Attraction in the English 1000 Guineas, she was also second in the
Fillies Mile last year. From Salsabil's family, she is another Godolphin
runner. It will be interesting to see who Frankie picks to ride.
She has won once in three starts but looks arguably the most talented
in the field.
SELECTION
1. Sundrop
2. Punctilious
3. All Too Beautiful