Rayya out to give Mendelssohn form a boost in the Kentucky Oaks

Preview: USA, Friday 11.12pm BST, live on ATR

Churchill Downs: Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1) 1m1f | dirt | 3yo fillies

The big question for European racing fans watching Churchill Downs this weekend is whether Mendelssohn can transfer his spectacular Dubai form across the Atlantic to Kentucky.

With that in mind, there could be a clue when Rayya (Bob Baffert/Drayden van Dyke) contests the Kentucky Oaks, the $1 million highlight of a sensational Friday card that features six Graded stakes contests, a return to Churchill Downs for the winners of last year's Oaks and Derby plus a couple of Royal Ascot possibles.

Rayya was one of the stars of the Dubai Carnival over the winter – winning the UAE Oaks for former trainer Doug Watson before finishing a distant second to 18-length victor Mendelssohn in the UAE Derby.

Now transferred to Bob Baffert, she has drawn stall seven in a maximum field of 14 in America's senior race for three-year-old fillies.

"She has a lot of natural speed and I see her probably on the lead,” said the trainer, who won the Oaks for the third time 12 months ago with Abel Tasman.

"The only one that took the lead away from her was a little horse called Mendelssohn so we'll give her a pass on that one," added Baffert. "She came to me in excellent condition but we're asking her to do almost the impossible – coming from Dubai to win the Oaks – but so far everything we've asked her to do, she's done it.

"I think she's a very talented and courageous filly. I don't see anything that makes me think she won't run a good race but she's going to be speed against other speed."

Rayya is a general 10-1 chance with British bookmakers behind market leaders Monomoy Girl and Midnight Bisou, the country's dominant three-year-old dirt fillies.

Monomoy Girl (Brad Cox/Florent Geroux) is one of three runners for her trainer, a Louisville native who won three stakes contests over the Classic weekend in 2017.

"The Derby and Oaks are always something to look forward to," Cox said. "It’s fun – you just want to be competitive. We had a great weekend last year so we hope we can repeat that. We have 11 entered on Friday and three on Saturday, so it'll be busy."

Monomoy Girl, who is joined by stablemates Sassy Sienna and Kelly's Humor, has won five of her six career starts for Cox, who said: "This means a lot – I feel very fortunate to be in this position and I think all three fillies are going to show up."

Midnight Bisou: leading Kentucky Oaks fancy gets some paddock schooling at Churchill DownsCredit: Churchill Downs/CoadyPhotography

The outside post is a potential cause for concern for a filly whose speed is her most potent weapon, which she displayed when making all to win the Grade 1 Ashland last time out.

"She's obviously a good filly and good horses overcome things," said Cox. "We'll have to overcome the 14 hole and have the speed and everything to the inside of us. We'll see if she can adjust."

West-coast filly Midnight Bisou (Bill Spawr/Mike Smith) has won her last three starts at Santa Anita, including the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks last month.

Also on Friday

Churchill Downs: (Grade 1) 1m½f | dirt | 4yo+ | f/m (6.17pm BST, live on ATR)

Last year's champion three-year-old filly Abel Tasman (Bob Baffert/Mike Smith) makes her seasonal debut back at the venue where she signalled her arrival on the major stage by winning the Kentucky Oaks last year.

Last seen coming second in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, she is looking for the fourth Grade 1 victory of her career.

Churchill Downs: Twin Spires Turf Sprint (Grade 3) 5f | turf | 3yo+ (7pm BST, live on ATR)

Royal Ascot possible Bucchero (Tim Glyshaw/Fernando de la Cruz), who holds entries in both the King's Stand and Diamond Jubilee, tests his mettle in a double-figure field.

Beaten less than a length when fourth in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, the Indiana-bred six-year-old is drawn nine of 11 but comes here on the back of a runner-up effort in a Grade 2 event on soft ground at Keeneland last month.

Churchill Downs: Alysheba Stakes (Grade 2) 1m½f | dirt | 4yo+ (7.53pm BST, live on ATR)

Last year's Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming (Todd Pletcher/John Velazquez) returns to the scene of his greatest triumph with some serious work to do to repair his reputation, having been beaten on all four starts since he won at this venue 12 months ago.

Always Dreaming: last year's Kentucky Derby winner bids to get his career back on trackCredit: Lauren King/Gulfstream Park

After a seven-month layoff following a setback with stomach ulcers, he was second in the Gulfstream Park Mile at the end of March.

Rivals in this $400,000 contest include New Orleans Handicap victor Good Samaritan (Bill Mott/Joel Rosario), breaking from gate one, and Grade 1 veteran Hoppertunity (Bob Baffert/Flavien Prat), who won the Clark here in 2014.

Churchill Downs: Edgewood Stakes (Grade 3) 1m½f | turf | 3yo fillies (10.04pm BST, live on ATR)

Coronation Stakes entry Rushing Fall (Chad Brown/Javier Castellano), who also has the option of a race on Saturday's card, has drawn the outside post in an 11-runner field as she bids to extend her unbeaten sequence to five following a victory on her seasonal debut last month in Grade 2 company at Keeneland.

Rushing Fall: drawn wide againCredit: Edward Whitaker

A wide draw certainly didn't do her any harm on a tighter circuit at Del Mar. Drawn 11 there in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf, she unleashed a fierce kick to run down her rivals, who included Ballydoyle's 1,000 Guineas pair September and Happily.

The daughter of More Than Ready is owned by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds, which consists of Bob Edwards and his family.

"We're excited about the future of our turf rocket and couldn't be happier than seeing her in our silks at Royal Ascot," he said.

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