'Ryan was sweet on her' - €1.85 million buy Minnie Hauk 9-1 for Oaks after stylish success for Aidan O'Brien

Minnie Hauk has a long way to go to repay her hefty price tag but she put her money down to be Aidan O'Brien's leading light in the Oaks with a fine win in the Cheshire equivalent.

The daughter of Frankel was snapped up by Coolmore for €1.85 million at the 2023 Goffs Orby Book 1 Yearling Sale. While the £68,052 winning prize may not significantly eat into that fee, she laid down her marker for the £550,000 Epsom Classic next month with victory by a length under Ryan Moore.

Having been cut initially by Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook to 16-1 (from 20), her price was slashed to 9-1 by both firms. Oaks sponsors Betfred were more impressed and made her the 8-1 second-favourite (from 20) behind 3-1 market leader Desert Flower.

Paul Smith, representing Coolmore, said: "That [the Oaks] is the plan. Aidan always thought she'd improve a lot for this run. She's a very kind, uncomplicated filly with a great attitude. The step up in trip obviously helped and you'd be thinking of the Oaks.

"Ryan was niggling away just to get her interested, but she's kind and always answers to the jockey and she just kept on finding. Ryan was quite sweet on her."

Minnie Hauk was a record-extending ninth Cheshire Oaks winner for O'Brien and seventh for Moore, even if there was a moment's worry when she was niggled along around the home turn before powering clear.

Minnie Hauk dazzles in the Chester sun to win the Cheshire OaksCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"This race is the one that'll help them learn for Epsom, from the experience of being here," Smith added. "It's a unique track as it's so close to the crowd and they come on a ton for running here. Aidan always likes to have them pointed to coming here if he can."

The betting suggests Minnie Hauk will lead the Coolmore powerhouse's Oaks team next month, although Smith stressed there is still plenty of water to flow under the bridge before the pecking order is finalised.

Asked if she is their leading hope, he said: "We don't know if she is yet and we'll see how all the trials go over the next week or so, but she has to be in the mix."

Runner-up Secret Of Love has an entry only in the Irish Oaks, but her connections may be tempted by the lure of supplementing for Epsom.

Anna Lisa Balding, wife of trainer Andrew Balding, said: "We're absolutely delighted. It was her first run for a while and she'll come on for it. She got the trip well and she's just taken a step at the worst time of the race, but David [Probert] managed to gather her up again and get her to finish the race really strongly. 

"It's onwards and upwards and there's a race meeting in June her owner likes to go to. We'll see how she comes out of the race and make a plan from there."

Charlie Johnston could send Caspi Star to Royal Ascot following her third-place finish.

He said: "She's a big girl and that probably impacts her not being the most fleet of foot out of the stalls. She was on the back foot from the word go. She was probably finding the track a bit tight and got hampered turning into the straight just as she was coming with her run, but then finished better than anything. 

"There are only positives to take out of it. She's not in the Oaks and we'll have to see what Nurlan [Bizakov, owner] thinks but if she doesn't go there, I'm sure she'll go to the Ribblesdale."

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