Horseplay camp looking to have last laugh in Oaks

It has been a long time between drinks for Andrew Balding on the Classic front but the trainer and rider Oisin Murphy's confidence is growing that Horseplay can maintain his 100 per cent record in the Investec Oaks.

Balding, successful in the Oaks with Casual Look in 2003, witnessed this month’s Pretty Polly Stakes winner, a general 12-1 shot for the Oaks, work alongside Coronation Cup entry Elbereth on her first experience of the unique undulations at Tuesday's Breakfast With The Stars.

Murphy, who partnered Horseplay to a 13-length maiden victory at Nottingham in October, was not short of praise for the Cliveden Stud filly following morning exercise.

Murphy said: “I felt she handled the track as well as any horse I’ve ridden round here. She took a fair bit of pulling up without pressing any buttons – I was really impressed.

“She blew me away when she won a maiden at Nottingham on very soft ground and the form of that race has been franked. We couldn’t be happier with her.”

The form of Balding's string, which he describes as his strongest yet, gives the trainer plenty of confidence ahead of a second Oaks bid, 14 years on from Casual Look’s Classic triumph.

Balding said: “It feels like 50 years ago since that big day! To win the Oaks in my first season training was a dream come true, and it still brings back many great memories.

“I was very happy with Horseplay this morning – her work partner Elbereth is no slouch and in the form of her life – so to see Horseplay work well alongside her bodes well.

"She’s had only three runs in her life and she was looking around a little bit and picked up really well in the straight. Getting her over a trip we hope will bring out the best in her.”

Architecture finished a fine second in the Oaks for Hugo Palmer last year and this season the trainer’s hopes lie with Musidora second Vintage Folly.

A maiden winner at Newcastle in November, Vintage Folly, a 40-1 chance with Betfred and Coral to land the Oaks, finished a length and three-quarters behind Prix de Diane-bound Shutter Speed in the Group 3 at York, however Palmer believes ease in the ground is key to her participation on June 2.

Palmer said: “As soon as Vintage Folly strengthened up we realised she was quite smart. It was no surprise she won first time out and we were waiting for a bit of juice in the ground, which she got at York.

"She was closer to Shutter Speed at York than Enable was at Newbury, and Enable is 7-2 and we’re 40-1 - it would be quite hard if it was good ground or softer not to run."

John Gosden intends to saddle Coronet and Enable, while Aidan O’Brien plans to run 1,000 Guineas second and market leader Rhododendron, and Cheshire Oaks runner-up Alluringly.