Epsom Oaks Preview, Runners & Riders

As the flat racing season picks up a furious pace around this time of year, we move beyond the trio of Guineas in the UK, France, and Ireland. Our attention shifts to the stars of middle-distance racing, with the eagerly anticipated Oaks at Epsom set for a mile and a half this coming Friday.

The Gosden Team

John Gosden, a trainer with an impressive track record of three wins in this event over recent years, notably with Anapurna in 2019, unsurprisingly has a formidable lineup this year.

The market is currently led by Emily Upjohn, who boasts odds of 11/10 following a narrow victory in her debut last November and two subsequent wins on grass this season. all-weather at Wolverhampton The latest of Emily Upjohn's successes was a commanding five-and-a-half-length win as a favorite in the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York, over an extended mile and a quarter. This prestigious trial yielded the Oaks winner last year, under the guidance of Aidan O’Brien with Snowfall.

John Gosden, who has claimed the Musidora six times, has seen some of his previous winners evolve into noteworthy middle-distance competitors, although none has clinched the Oaks.

With a lineage that includes the mile-and-a-quarter victor Barathea mare Hidden Brief and Derby winner Sea The Stars, Emily Upjohn should face no stamina concerns, positioning her as a top contender.

Emily Upjohn's stablemate Nashwa, with odds around 9/2 for Friday's main event, recently secured an impressive victory as a favorite in the Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial Stakes over a mile-and-a-quarter at Newbury.

Demonstrating a personal best by racing from off the pace, Nashwa, the daughter of Frankel and half-sister to Louganini who excelled over the Derby distance, appears unfazed by the trip. While John Gosden's three triumphs since 2014 are notable, Aidan O’Brien, Ireland’s leading trainer, has five Oaks victories in the same period, including recent wins with Love and Snowfall. The Ballydoyle maestro fields four potential runners this year, with Concert Hall at the shortest odds.

Irish Challengers

Concert Hall, priced at 7/1, highlighted her two-year-old form by winning a seven-furlong Group 3 at The Curragh and showed resilience in a Listed mile and a quarter victory at Navan this season.

Descended from 2012's Oaks winner Was, Concert Hall handled a drop to a mile well, finishing a commendable third in the Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh.

The sire Dubawi has produced many elite performers, often at shorter distances, yet Concert Hall's dam line inspires hope for her stamina at the Oaks distance.

Another Aidan O’Brien hope, Tuesday (8/1), has shown promise despite just one maiden win at Naas. She's finished in the money in both the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and its Irish equivalent.

Tuesday's five-and-a-half-length second place in the Irish 1000 Guineas marks her as a worthy competitor, following in the footsteps of her full-sister Minding, the 2016 Oaks champion.

No jockey assignments are confirmed yet for this weekend, but it would not be a surprise to see stable jockey Ryan Moore aboard Tuesday come race day.

Joseph O’Brien, a former Ballydoyle jockey, represents Ireland alongside Train Lady (14/1), a notable Group 3 Blue Wind Stakes winner.

Stepping up in distance, Tranquil Lady had no trouble with the mile-and-a-quarter at Naas. Known for global achievements, her trainer could claim his first Oaks win with this daughter of Australia.

With their successful 2022 so far, it would be incomplete to consider the Oaks without mentioning the Godolphin contender With The Moonlight (8/1), victor of the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket.

Godolphin Challenge

The Frankel filly is kin to 2019 Group 1 standout Dream Castle, yet Charlie Appleby’s charge may face distance challenges at Epsom.

Jockey William Buick, experienced in Epsom's big-race victories, aims to add the Oaks to his collection, having won the 2018 Derby on Masar and the 2020 Coronation Cup with Ghaiyyath.

As anticipated, Lingfield Oaks Trial victor Rogue Millennium (16/1) joins the lineup, arriving unbeaten with stamina proven by her Lingfield success over an extended one-mile-three-furlong.

Millennium Supplemented

Trainer Tom Clover is in search of his inaugural Oaks win, and local rider Jack Mitchell, whose father Philip trained at Epsom Downs, is booked to ride, promising local support.

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