A wide open race. Proven top class Virginia Waters takes on improvers Cassydora and Eswarah, while there has been money for Irish 1000 Guineas seventh Joint Aspiration.

ARGENTINA: High class filly, she was second to the unbeaten Vadawina in the Prix Saint Alary. Well beaten on that occasion, she was previously second in the Prix Cleopatre. A daughter of Sadler's Wells - the sire of four previous Oaks winners - she is great granddaughter of the incomparable Allez France.

CASSYDORA: Impressive six length winner of the Lingfield Oaks Trial at her last time. The filly in second was a maiden, although the third filly home, Ayam Zaman, did win last year's Zetland Stakes. A useful juvenile, she ran fourth to Oaks non starter, Playful Act, in the May Hill Stakes. Prior to that she beat Playful Act comfortably in a Maiden race. A daughter of Darshaan, both her dam and granddam were fancied for their Oaks, but both ran unplaced.

DREAM TO DRESS: Theatrical filly has run just three times. She won her last start but takes a huge step up from a Fairyhouse Maiden to the Oaks here. She was beaten just five lengths by English 1000 Guineas winner Virginia Waters when making her debut and clearly has some ability. Dermot Weld's raiders do well overseas but she needs to improve.

ESWARAH: The current favourite. She has been working the barns down and was most impressive when winning a Listed race at Newbury very easily. She is unbeaten in two starts and her connections rate her highly. Eswarah has yet to face a filly the caliber of Virginia Waters however although her win last time out had to be seen to be believed. A daughter of the late, but currently red-hot, Unfuwain, her dam, Midway Lady won both the 1000 Guineas and Oaks.

FEN SHUI: A surprise supplement to the field, considering her unplaced run in the English 1000 Guineas last time out. Has won just once, albeit impressively, and has to improve drastically to feature here. A daughter of Timber Country, she is a half sister to Conroy, who dueled with new sire Asaal in Dubai.

HIGHER LOVE: Second in the Cheshire Oaks to Alumni - who was not considered an Oaks filly. She has won one of her four starts to date and needs to improve for her connections. Another daughter of super sire Sadler's Wells, she is a close relative of Virginia Waters' dam Legend Maker. She is bred like 1995 Oaks winner Moonshell, being by Sadler's Wells out of a Kris mare.

JOINT ASPIRATION: Despite being well beaten when seventh in the Irish 1000 Guineas, the Pivotal filly has attracted considerable support. Despite her pedigree, she was said to be staying on well when beating Virginia Waters at the Curragh. She was touched off by English 1000 Guineas third on her seasonal debut.

MAGICAL ROMANCE: Last year's shock Cheveley Park winner. She was unplaced in the French 1000 Guineas at her seasonal debut. Her pedigree - she is by Barathea from Dumka's family, suggests she won't stay and she needs to show her Chevely win was not a fluke.

MONA LISA: A bitterly disappointing favourite when unplaced in the Musidora Stakes. She was fourth in last year's Fillies Mile but she has shown nothing like that level of form since. A daughter of boom freshman sire, Giant's Causeway, her dam is a half sister to Colorspin.

PICTAVIA: From Sinndar's first crop, she was second in last year's Moyglare Stud Stakes. She was unplaced in her last two starts, but was not disgraced when seventh to Virginia Waters in the English 1000 Guineas. Her dam is a half sister to Hatoof and Pictavia should enjoy the further trip of the Oaks.

SILK AND SCARLET: She is attracting more attention for being Mick Kinane's first mount for Ballydoyle since breaking from them than for her own merit. She looked very promising when winning last year's Debutante Stakes, but has been well beaten since. She was not disgraced when fourth behind the unbeaten Divine Proportions in the French 1000 Guineas last time out. The filly she beat in the Debutante, Luas Line, ran third in the recent Irish 1000 Guineas.
Another daughter of Sadler's Wells she hails from the prepotent family of top class fillies Azeri and Matiara.

SOMETHING EXCITING: A good winner of the Lupe Stakes last time out. She has won four of her last five starts, although the Lupe Stakes didn't look the best of fields and none of the other runners run here. A daughter of Halling, she needs to improve to win here although she could run into the money.

VIRGINIA WATERS: Winner of the English 1000 Guineas. Connections blamed the ground for her poor run in the Irish equivalent, when unplaced behind Saiore. Was impressive when winning the Guineas trial at Leopardstown. Kingmambo has sired his share of horses who stay a mile and a half and she is out of a sister to In The Wings.

SELECTION
1 Virginia Waters
2 Eswarah
3 Pictavia