Impressive Pretty Polly winner Maqsad set to contest Oaks for Hamdan Al Maktoum

Connections of Maqsad, a general 7-1 chance for the Investec Oaks, on Thursday gave the strongest hint yet the filly would line up in the Epsom Classic in two weeks.

Trained by William Haggas for Hamdan Al Maktoum, Maqsad won a maiden at Newmarket's Craven meeting before winning convincingly at the track in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes this month.

A decision on her participation in the £500,000 contest had been uncertain with targets in France mentioned as alternatives, but the owner's racing manager Angus Gold said: "At the moment, she's heading for the Oaks.

"As I understand, Sheikh Hamdan is favouring that over the French Oaks. I think he'd just love to have a go at the Oaks with her."

Maqsad is a daughter of Siyouni, a Group 1-winning juvenile over seven furlongs, although her dam Amerique was a Listed second over a mile and four and a half furlongs and is by Galileo, who won the Derby in 2001.

"We don't know if she'll stay," Gold added. "It's not the one concern, but it is a big concern, obviously. She's by Siyouni, so we don't know, but there's stamina on the dam's side of the pedigree – we can't say she won't stay."

The sheikh's familiar blue and white colours – set to be on show in the Investec Derby with Madhmoon – have been carried to Oaks glory by Salsabil, Eswarah and Taghrooda, while Haggas won it in 2011 with Dancing Rain.

Haggas could also be represented by Frankellina and Sea Of Faith at Epsom on May 31. The Haggas trio were among 22 fillies confirmed for the race on Thursday, although the John Gosden-trained Cheshire Oaks winner Mehdaayih could be added to the field at a cost of £30,000 a week on Saturday.

1,000 Guineas heroine Hermosa is one of five possibles for Aidan O'Brien, whose Pink Dogwood, vying with Mehdaayih for Epsom favouritism, also remains in contention.

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