This filly looks a standout candidate to me, by Frankel out of Star Catcher who won the Ribblesdale, Irish Oaks, Vermeille and BC Filly & Mare, herself impeccably bred as a Sea The Stars half sister to Cannock Chase. You simply cant get better credentials on paper, and shes in the right stable - until Weld won the race last year, Gosden has been the only opposition to Obrien in it over the last decade
She was relatively weak in the market with a claimer on, going off around 13/2 on betfair, she looked pretty clueless through the race, slow away and held up in last, green on the bend when being asked to go up a gear, head all over the shop. She was still second last turning in but made up ground rapidly in the straight and pulled clear with the runner up, looking green again when she hit the front but holding on a comfortable half length.
The form on paper isnt worth much, but its not important, it was a perfect introduction, she should have learned plenty and will leave it well behind. Looking at the data, she has quite a stride on her at 26ft, a full foot longer than the next longest in the race, half a foot longer than any of the older horses on the card, and youd imagine she has plenty of growing to do still. Her peak cadence was 2.18 which tells us we wont see the best of her till she gets at least 12f.
She has a real quality head on her as well, just an overall look of quality about her to my eye, and thats to go with the pedigree and the potentially freakish stride, she looks destined for the top level to me. The Oaks is the only classic that Oppenheimer has not yet won, and while Star Catcher skipped the Oaks, she was beaten in her trial and Gosden also had Anapurna for it that year, if he has an Oaks filly this season I think this is it, and she will be given every chance to get to the race.
Taghrooda went to the Oaks with just the one prep run, but Star Of Light looks the type who will need 2 so we will hopefully see her in the next few weeks in a novice or conditions race before going for a trial. I havent been this keen on one for the race since I put up Taghrooda at 25s all those years ago, but well see, its a long way from a Wolves maiden to Epsom.
She was relatively weak in the market with a claimer on, going off around 13/2 on betfair, she looked pretty clueless through the race, slow away and held up in last, green on the bend when being asked to go up a gear, head all over the shop. She was still second last turning in but made up ground rapidly in the straight and pulled clear with the runner up, looking green again when she hit the front but holding on a comfortable half length.
The form on paper isnt worth much, but its not important, it was a perfect introduction, she should have learned plenty and will leave it well behind. Looking at the data, she has quite a stride on her at 26ft, a full foot longer than the next longest in the race, half a foot longer than any of the older horses on the card, and youd imagine she has plenty of growing to do still. Her peak cadence was 2.18 which tells us we wont see the best of her till she gets at least 12f.
She has a real quality head on her as well, just an overall look of quality about her to my eye, and thats to go with the pedigree and the potentially freakish stride, she looks destined for the top level to me. The Oaks is the only classic that Oppenheimer has not yet won, and while Star Catcher skipped the Oaks, she was beaten in her trial and Gosden also had Anapurna for it that year, if he has an Oaks filly this season I think this is it, and she will be given every chance to get to the race.
Taghrooda went to the Oaks with just the one prep run, but Star Of Light looks the type who will need 2 so we will hopefully see her in the next few weeks in a novice or conditions race before going for a trial. I havent been this keen on one for the race since I put up Taghrooda at 25s all those years ago, but well see, its a long way from a Wolves maiden to Epsom.
