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The Epsom Oaks & Coronation Cup slated for Friday - By Tom Krish

Posted on - 02 Jun 2011

The status of Carlton House, the Queen’s horse in Saturday’s Epsom Derby, is in doubt. An injury scare is causing turmoil in the market. In the exchanges, Carlton House, the Dante winner at York and widely expected to give Her Majesty the elusive victory in the Derby, has been drifting alarmingly. A decision whether Carlton House will be in the line up in the 2400-metre Classic will be made on Friday. The Andre Fabre-trained Pour Moi, to be ridden by the precocious Mickael Barzalona, has come in for inspired support. Coolmore’s Recital, Kieren Fallon’s ride, is another whose following is getting bigger by the minute. More on the Derby and the drama surrounding it in my next piece.
 
Of immediate concern are the two Group I races to be contested on Friday. The Epsom Oaks, for sophomore fillies, is the fifth race at 4 05 PM in the seven-race card. Thirteen fillies will answer the starter’s call. Aidan O’Brien has four runners. Kieren Fallon is aboard Wonder Of Wonders. Joseph O’Brien, Aidan’s son, gets the call on Eirnin. The ultra sharp Misty For Me will have Seamie Heffernan in the irons. WHY will be ridden by Mickael Barzalona. On form, Misty For Me and Wonder Of Wonders are Aidan O’Brien’s best prospects.
 
Sir Michael Stoute is represented in the Oaks by Havant. Ryan Moore will ride. Mick Channon is double handed with Fork Handles and Zain Al Boldan. The latter, an unbeaten filly, will be ridden by Sam Hitchcott.  Jamie Spencer will be the rider for Fork Handles.
 
John Dunlop sends out Beatrice Aurore who will have Ted Durcan. Blaise Chorus, trained by Barry Hills, will have Michael Hills on board. John Murtagh rides the William Haggas-trained Dancing Rain. John Gosden’s Izzi Top will have the services of William Buick. Fran Berry will be on Mrs John Harrington’s Siren’s Song.
 
Blue Bunting, the 1000 Guineas winner, is the 2-1 market fancy. Frankie Dettori, seeking his fourth Oaks win, will ride. Mahmood Al Zarooni trains the Godolphin-owned filly. Blue Bunting, a Dynaformer filly, comes into the race in fine fettle.
 
Trainer Al Zarooni has been bullish. “Blue Bunting is doing very well. She has won on soft courses and now she has shown she can do it on fast ground too at Newmarket. She’s classy. She has the best jockey and we have every chance of winning the big race.”
 
The other Group I race on Friday is the Coronation Cup also over 2400 metres. It is a five-horse field. It is the third race at 2 45 PM. What the Coronation Cup lacks in numerical strength, it more than makes up in quality. Aidan O’Brien sends out St Nicholas Abbey. Winner of the Racing Post Trophy in 2009 at Doncaster, St Nicholas Abbey was a costly flop in the 2010 English 2000 Guineas. Put on the shelf until this year, the Montjeu colt, after a lukewarm effort in his reappearance, was a smashing winner in Chester’s Boodles Diamond Ormonde Stakes in early May. Trainer O’Brien calls on Ryan Moore to handle St Nicholas Abbey.
 
Midday, the multiple Group I-winning mare, takes her chances. The Henry Cecil trainee, thwarted in her defense of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs, returned to winning ways in York’s Middleton Stakes last month. Tom Queally will be aboard Midday, a five year-old daughter of Oasis Dream.
 
Paul Mulrennan gets a chance to bask in Group I glory when he takes Dandino to post in the Coronation Cup. After a trip to Tokyo for the Japan Cup, Dandino, a Dansili progeny, has won at Ripon and at Newmarket.
 
Indian Days won the International Bosphorus Cup in Istanbul in September last year. He has been found wanting at the highest level and needs to find a lot.
Clowance completes the field. Richard Hughes rides for Roger Charlton.
 
RWITC is showing the races on Oaks and Derby days. It is a wonderful thing.

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