STAR RACING PREVIEW Fri: The 2025 Oaks

We have a cracking day’s racing at Epsom in store, with the Coronation Cup and Oaks the showpiece events of the day, writes WILLIAM KEDJANYI.

Both have strong favourites, with one of the world’s top turf performers bidding to break his Group 1 duck in the Coronation Cup whilst Desert Flower bids to make it a classic double in the Oaks against the Ballydoyle battalion. Let’s get stuck in!

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2:40 – Betfred Coronation Cup (Group 1) (Class 1) (4yo+)1m 4f

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This looks like a big opportunity for Calandagan to take a first Group 1. In the wrong place at the wrong time when outsped by City of Troy in last year’s Juddmonte International, and then again in the Champion Stakes when unable to get out in time before being nabbed on the line by Anmaat, he once again found one horse too fast in the Sheema Classic when just beaten by last year’s Japanese Derby winner Denon Decile, who had the benefit of a run beforehand, with last year’s Hong Kong Vase winner Giavelotto well behind.

He’s shown the most speed of any horse in the field – not that pace will be a problem with Ballydoyle running Continuous as a pacemaker for Jan Brueghel – and his peak form is well clear of his rivals. The worry for him would be that Epsom presents him with a problem, whilst Mikael Barazalona would be wise to have him close to the pace here, but assuming he gets a clear run at things, he can prove to good for his rivals.

Last year’s St Leger winner Jan Brueghel should step forward a great deal from his return in the Alleged Stakes, but he was a difficult ride there and doesn’t have as much tactical or raw pace as Calandagan on what we’ve seen so far. He will get a strong gallop courtesy of his stablemate but will need to be much more tractable today. This is a tough comeback for last year’s Irish Oaks winner and Yorkshire Oaks second You Got To Me, and both Ancient Wisdom and Bellum Justum have a lot of improvement to make.

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4:00 – Betfred Oaks (Group 1) (Fillies) (Class 1) (3yo)1m4f

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The obvious place to start is with 1.000 Guineas winner Desert Flower, who showed a fantastic attitude to land the odds at Newmarket, making it 5-5, with two Group 1 contests in that run. Her talent is obvious but there are two questions over her: what could be the softest ground she’s encountered alongside and a step upto 12 furlongs to boot. she’s by the miler Night Of Thunder and her dam Promising Run won four Group 2’s from 7 to 9 furlongs, so whilst there’s stamina in the background of her pedigree, it’s a question mark. It’s also debateable if she improved much on her admittedly impressive juvenile form when winning at Newmarket, and the percentage call is to be aginst her today.

Elwateen was only two and a half lengths behind Desert Orchid in the Guineas on just her second start, and looks well overpriced on that form considering the huge potential she has for improvement after just a couple of runs. Out of the 2020 Prix Saint-Alary winner Tawkeel, who stayed 10f well and handled all ground, she will surely improve for going up in trip, and whilst 1m4f is a slight question mark, it’s one worth taking a chance on at the price for her sheer potential.

The Ballydoyle challenge is crucial here, as they have three big contenders in the shape of Chester Oaks winner Minnie Hauk (Ryan Moore), Musidora winner Whirl (Wayne Lordan) and Lingfield Oaks trial winner Giselle (Colin Keane). All of them have to be respected here, with less between them than the betting might suggest – Minnie Hauk is a ? shot at the time of writing, with her stablemates double that – although Whirl won a weak looking Musidora (Go Go Boots third) and had the advantage of race fitness whilst Giselle essentially did a piece of work at Lingfield against two overmatched runners, which didn’t tell us anything much about how she’ll handle the hill.

All have their chances, but on several formlines, Wemighttakedlongway looks very much overpriced. She wasn’t able to land a blow in the Ballysax on her seasonal return but she was a comprehensive winner of the Salsabil Stakes when putting aside an impressive and highly promising maiden winner with the solid yardstick Island Hopping over six lengths back in third.

Group Three success for Wemightakedlongway 🤩@JosephOBrien2 and @DylanBrowneMcM land the @IrishEBF_ Salsabil Stakes 👏@NavanRacecourse pic.twitter.com/5Mw9724Jf4

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 26, 2025

She did that form no harm when finishing third in the Naas Oaks Trial and her juvenile form is also working out well – she beat Minnie Hauk in a Cork maiden last October and was third in the Eyrefield Stakes when Prix du Jockey Club fourth Trinity College was just ahead of her. By 2014 Derby winner Australia, comfortable on all ground, and well balanced coming down the hill at Navan, she looks overpriced here.

It was hard not to include Revoir, who would have passed Qilin Queen within an extra side at Newbury on just her second start, for a trainer with a fine record in this race including the 2008 winner Look Here, who’s a close relation. A big run from her wouldn’t surprise.

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RECOMMENDED BETS
BACK Calandagan to win the Coronation Cup (2.40 Epsom) 4 pts at 8/11 (⭐  ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Elawateen to win the Oaks (4.00 Epsom) 1 pt each/way at 12/1 (⭐  ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Wemightakedlongway to win the Oaks (4.00 Epsom) 1 pt each/way at 14/1 (⭐  ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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PROFIT/LOSS (JUN 2025): 6.60 points

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