Oak Tree Stakes - Glorious Goodwood Day 4

5.15 Glorious Goodwood
Oak Tree Stakes (Fillies' Group 3) (Class 1) (3YO plus)
Winner £34,062

Pick: Jacqueline Quest (win) , Tabassum (each/way)

Pyrrha: Didn't stop improving in handicaps, landing a brace of victories at Newmarket last summer (usually well supported); Has done nothing wrong this year, blazing home in Chartwell Stakes (had notable help from draw); Unplaced in Windsor Forest and while this should be easier in theory, has got penalty.

Golden Stream: Kept on progressing all through last season and ran to useful enough level when winning at listed level; Has arguably run successive carrer bests last twice, when staying on behind Pyrrha at Lingfield in May from poor position in Windsor Forest (not given hard time once chance had gone); Can do well here

Summer Fete: Lightly-raced filly who won this last year before unsuccessful crack at Group 1 company in Prix Du Moulin; Presumably been kept fresh for follow up, although ground will be notably quicker than last year and she has run up light on good to firm before and this is a strong renewal.

Tropical Paradise; Looked better than ever when narrowly winning C&D handicap in May; Each/way chances based on that form but hasn’t cut much ice in group company since and while she will like 7f more than 1m, this probably going to be too tough.

Puff: Made major strides as a 2 year old, coming fourth in both the Lowther and Cheveley Park Stakes; With that in mind, win in the Fred Darling wasn’t a surprise and 1m in Coronation Stakes too much; Drop back in trip gives her chance.

Blue Angel: Second to Aviate in minor event over C&D on return, but since behind Flora Trevlyan and Alsace Lorraine in big handicap at Ascot and hasn’t done anything since.

Jacqueline Quest: Defied her 100/1 odds to win 1,000 Guineas, only to lose race in the Stewards room; Proved merit of that effort when third in Coroantion Stakes and major chance here with drop in trip just fine.

Strictly Dancing: Has either won or finished second on all 4 of her starts this season, improving every time despite a rising mark and grade; Those efforts mark her down as tough admirable filly but this likely to be too tough.

Tabassum: Surprised a few when landing her maiden in good style over 6f on July course on debut, quickly asserting late; Blew away the field in Group 3 before coming third in Rockfel (better than bare result); Well beaten in Coronation but that her seasonal debut and obviously more to come.

VERDICT: A very strong renewal with the good older fillies Summer Fete, Golden Stream and Prryha coming here but it could be the 3 year olds Puff, Tabassum and JACQUELINE QUEST fighting it out, with the latter having an ultra-solid chance if repeating her last 2 runs.