Aidan O'Brien: 'We always thought Willow could develop into an Oaks filly'

3.50 Navan
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes | 1m2f | Listed | 3yo | TG4/RTV

Pink Dogwood won this Listed contest in 2019 before finishing a neck behind Anapurna in the Oaks at Epsom, and her trainer Aidan O'Brien unleashes another potential Classic contender in Willow.

The daughter of American Pharaoh is a half-sister to September and made it third time lucky in a mile maiden at Leopardstown in October. The further she went, the better she looked so it is no surprise to see her begin her three-year-old season over this trip.

Willow is as short as 10-1 with William Hill for the Cazoo-sponsored Oaks and victory here would surely see her price shorten further.

Joseph O'Brien has two runners and Thinking Of You appears to be his leading hope. She won a Limerick maiden in September and contested a Newmarket Group 3 less than a month later. She achieved a lot as a juvenile and should progress further at three.

Last year's winning trainer Jessica Harrington is represented by Thurles maiden winner Sacred Rhyme, while other maiden winners worth noting are Create Belief, Port Sunlight and Maar.

Henry de Bromhead has some big fish to fry next week at Punchestown, but before then he will find out whether Flirting Bridge is a Classic contender.

What they say

Donnacha O'Brien, trainer of April Showers
She's working like a nice filly and we hope she goes well in what looks a very competitive race.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Flirting Bridge
She's done really well over the winter and we're looking forward to seeing how she gets on.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Lovely Esteem and Thinking Of You
Thinking Of You came a long way in a short space of time last year. She was a bit disappointing at Newmarket, but the run just came too quickly for her. She's bred to stay this longer trip and will improve for the run. Lovely Esteem ran well on her debut at Leopardstown and made it second time lucky at Dundalk in July. Dropping back to seven furlongs wasn’t ideal there but it looked a winnable race, so we let her take her chance and she won well. This sort of trip should suit her and this will give us a much better idea of where we stand.

Adrian McGuinness, trainer of Maar
It's a big step up in class but I believe she's a nice filly and warrants it after winning well at Dundalk.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Willow
We always thought she could develop into an Oaks filly. She's done well over the winter but she is stepping up in trip from a mile and will come on for the run.

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