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Confirmed runners and riders for Friday's Cazoo Oaks at Epsom plus an early tip

Santa Barbara: heads the betting and field in the Cazoo Oaks on Friday
Santa Barbara: heads the betting and field in the Cazoo Oaks on FridayCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Santa Barbara will head a team of five for Aidan O'Brien in the Cazoo Oaks as 14 fillies stood their ground for the third Classic of the season at Epsom on Friday.

The daughter of Camelot finished fourth when sent off joint-favourite for the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket last month on just her second career start – a test the trainer said she passed with "flying colours" – and heads the betting at 5-2 with Paddy Power for the 1m4f Group 1.

Stablemate Snowfall, an impressive winner of the Musidora Stakes at York last month, has also been declared as well as the well-supported Divinely. La Joconde and Willow complete the team for the Ballydoyle trainer.

Ryan Moore has been jocked up on Santa Barbara, with Frankie Dettori on board Snowfall. Seamie Heffernan will get the leg-up on Divinely, while Willow and La Joconde will be ridden by Wayne Lordan and William Buick respectively.

The Roger Varian-trained duo, Teona and Zeyaadah, spearhead the home challenge, with David Egan booked to ride Teona instead of Andrea Atzeni, who partnered her to finish second behind Snowfall in the Musidora, with Jim Crowley on Zeyaadah following their second place in the Cheshire Oaks.

Dubai Fountain, who beat Zeyaadah at Chester, will aim to provide Franny Norton with a first Classic success, while 1,000 Guineas second Saffron Beach has been declared following a workout at Epsom last Monday.

Zeyaadah (left): finished second to Dubai Fountain (right) at Chester but fancied to reverse the form at Epsom
Dubai Fountain (right) and Zeyaadah (left) will reoppose in the Cazoo OaksCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Pretty Polly winner Mystery Angel takes up her engagement for the in-form George Boughey having been supplemented earlier in the week and the Lingfield Oaks Trial 1-2-3, Sherbet Lemon, Save A Forest and Ocean Road, reoppose.

Noon Star was a notable absentee having been scratched from the race on Wednesday following a setback.

In the other Group 1 on the card, the Coral Coronation Cup, Al Aasy will bid to continue his rapid ascent through the ranks with a first success at the top level.

The four-year-old has been an easy winner of two Group 3s at Newbury this season – the latest coming when impressively putting away a strong field in the Al Rayyan Stakes – and is the 10-11 favourite with Paddy Power to provide Shadwell with a poignant success following the death of Hamdan Al Maktoum earlier this year.

O'Brien will rely on siblings Mogul and Japan, who bounced back to his best in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester last month, while the Kirsten Rausing-owned fillies Albaflora and Alpinista, as well as the William Muir-trained Pyledriver, also feature in the final field of seven.


4.30 Epsom Friday: Cazoo Oaks card and betting

3.10 Epsom Friday: Coral Coronation Cup card and betting


Cazoo Oaks runners and riders

Divinely Seamie Heffernan
Dubai FountainFranny Norton
La JocondeWilliam Buick
Mystery AngelBen Curtis
Ocean RoadOisin Murphy
Saffron BeachAdam Kirby
Santa BarbaraRyan Moore
Save A Forest Callum Shepherd
Sherbet Lemon Hollie Doyle
SnowfallFrankie Dettori
TechniqueSean Levey
TeonaDavid Egan
WillowWayne Lordan
ZeyaadahJim Crowley

Coral Coronation Cup runners and riders

Al AasyJim Crowley
Highland ChiefDavid Probert
Japan Ryan Moore
MogulSeamie Heffernan
PyledriverMartin Dwyer
AlbafloraFrankie Dettori
AlpinistaLuke Morris


Pedigree punting: Oaks verdict and prediction

1 Snowfall
2 Save A Forest
3 Teona

Santa Barbara was the major talking horse over most of the winter and while the daughter of Camelot was not disgraced when fourth in the 1,000 Guineas, she should really be coming into her own over the Oaks trip of a mile and a half.

Her sire struck in the 2012 Derby and is most notable for siring top-level middle-distance/staying types, including Irish Derby hero Latrobe and Pink Dogwood, who came close to Epsom glory when a near second to Anapurna in 2019. Santa Barbara hails from an outstanding family, being out of the Danehill mare Senta's Dream and therefore a half-sister to multiple top-level victress Iridessa (by Ruler Of The World) and Breeders' Cup Mile winner Order Of Australia (Australia).

The Ballydoyle team could also be represented by Divinely, a sister to the brilliant Arc-winning Found, La Joconde, a Frankel half-sister to last year's Irish Derby hero Santiago, Willow, by American Pharoah and out of the multiple top-level winning Irish Oaks heroine Peeping Fawn, and Snowfall, winner of the Musidora and a Deep Impact filly out of another sister to Found in the Group 3-winning Best In The World.

Arguably the first three have plenty to find on form, although the yard have sent out big-priced winners of this Classic before. Snowfall failed to make an impact in Group races at two, although her dam's side suggests a step up in trip and an improvement with age should be up her street.
Kitty Trice, Racing Post bloodstock reporter


Read more on the Epsom Classics:

Strong pace in Derby will suit classy High Definition, says Aidan O'Brien

'Santa Barbara passed Guineas test with flying colours and has a lot of class'

Epsom watering continues as site prepares to host 4,000 per day for Classics


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Matt RennieReporter

Published on 2 June 2021inNews

Last updated 13:16, 2 June 2021

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