Snowfall could attempt Oaks double after record-breaking triumph at Epsom

Aidan O’Brien is edging away from an immediate clash with the colts for record-breaking Oaks winner Snowfall, with next month’s Juddmonte Irish Oaks high on the agenda.

O’Brien stressed no firm decision has been made on a next target for Snowfall, whose winning margin of 16 lengths under Frankie Dettori beat the previous Oaks record held by 1983 winner Sun Princess.

Snowfall was made 5-1 favourite for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after her Epsom win but O’Brien is taking it slowly with targets although next month’s Classic at the Curragh was mentioned. Enable is the last Oaks winner to follow up in the Irish equivalent, in 2017.

O’Brien said: "We'll see how she comes out of the race before deciding on anything but the Irish Oaks would look an ideal race for her on what she did yesterday. We'll see how she is over the next while.

“Santa Barbara [fifth] ran well and it looked like the trip might just have stretched her a bit, so she could come back in distance."

Boughey 'setting his sights at the top' with Oaks second Mystery Angel

George Boughey was on Saturday still coming to terms with the performance of his first Classic runner Mystery Angel after the 50-1 shot finished second to Snowfall.

The in-form trainer will monitor his filly before deciding on future targets next week alongside her owners Nick Bradley Racing.

Mystery Angel: upset the odds to finish second in the Oaks at Epsom on FridayCredit: Getty Images

"It was an amazing effort," said Boughey. "She's a special filly and in a normal year, when you don't have a freak like the winner Snowfall, she would have won the Oaks. It's just a huge credit to her. She's been around the continent already and is improving all the time.

"She's Group 1-placed now, so we've got to plot the right route carefully and try to find the right race to target with her.

"It's tricky because the majority of suitable races are early-closing. She's not in the Ribblesdale and it might come too soon for her. The natural step would be to go for the Hoppings Stakes at Newcastle but it's a Group 3 and we should probably set our sights at the top. We'll monitor her for the next week or so and I'll discuss it with Nick."

Watch Mystery Angel finish runner-up in the Oaks on Friday

Boughey, who sent out his first runners in 2019, won the Woodcote Stakes on Friday with Oscula. She is also owned by Nick Bradley Racing and could be aimed at the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot.

"It was a special day for Nick and his guys," added the trainer. "It sounds mad but I've never seen so many grown men cry. Some of them only own small percentages of horses but they experienced something most people can't afford – Nick makes it accessible.

"Mystery Angel was our first Classic runner and I never expected to go so close so early in my career. She's certainly not bred for what she achieved as she's by Kodi Bear out of a Dark Angel mare. I thought she'd win a maiden and we might nick a bit of black type. She never worked like a Group 1 filly and saves it for the track.

"Oscula was pretty impressive too. Her work has been good without being exceptional but I like them to improve on the track. They have to be good to win on their debut and she'll probably go to Royal Ascot. She was cut for the Albany Stakes after her win at Epsom."

Mystery Angel (white and black silks): finished 16 lengths behind Snowfall in the OaksCredit: Edward Whitaker

Mystery Angel was supplemented for the Oaks and finished clear of Divinely and Save A Forest, whose trainer Roger Varian was also represented by Teona and Cheshire Oaks second Zeyaadah.

"I thought Save A Forest ran a great race," said the trainer. "She got into a bit of trouble when they crossed over. I don't know if it cost her third as Callum [Shepherd] never really stopped riding.

"Zeyaadah didn't stay. She came there in the straight but just didn't get home. We'll drop her in trip next time. Teona didn't appear to handle the track and took a while to get the hang of things. We'll look to run her on a more conventional track next time and also on better ground as her mother Ambivalent wanted it quick."

Read more:

'Like a hot knife through butter' - Snowfall routs Oaks field by 16 lengths

Never in our lives have we seen anything like it - Snowfall reigns in the rain

'If she looks the business again in Irish Oaks then she's a serious Arc player'

Snowfall win gives Aidan O'Brien joint top spot in Classic history

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