Glorious Goodwood 2011 - Oak Tree Stakes

4.50 Goodwood

Oak Tree Stakes (Fillies' Group 3) (Class 1)  (3YO plus)

Winner £28,355

Pick: Chachamaidee (win)

Chachamaidee: Good sort; Has found new level of form this year for being fitted with a hood, coming a good second in the Windsor Forest Stakes at Royal Ascot; Should go well and inside draw is a major help.

Dawn Eclipse: Outran her odds when fourth behind Emulous at 66/1 two starts ago but that seems like a fluke and widest draw of all is no help at all.

Dever Dream: Failed to show her progression on first two starts this season (found trouble in running) but much more like it when close second to in- form Ladies Are Forever at York last time; Should go well here although plenty of stiff opposition.

Law Of the Range: Has made some remarkable progress since winning at Sandown last may, rounding off hat – trick with game front running display latest; Well drawn for another try at that but this field harder to lead all the way.

Magic Eye: Reliable performer in native Germany, winning 4 times in listed company and has done well again this season but Rockaltella (fellow German raider) holds her based on this season’s form.

Pyrrha: Third in this race last year and pleasing effort on comeback when third again in Lingfield Group 3; must bounce back from a modest effort in French Group 3 last time.

Rockatella: One place and 1½ lengths in front of Magic Eye when runner-up in Group 3 over 1m at Bremen last time; That form might need improving on here.

Thai Haiku: Would hold every chance based on efforts in Meydan this sprint efforts and you can’t throw her out based on her French comeback run, when short of room in the straight; Still needs to run to top form.

Tropical Paradise: Quite a taking winner of this last season and has carried most of her form to this campaign but draw in 13 could pose a serious problem if she misses the kick and this a better renewal.

Perfect Tribute: One of the more appealing choices in this field, having broken track records at Ascot and Lingfield this season and latest run can be discounted; Of major interest from a perfect draw in stall 5.

Rimth: Very fast 2yo who showed she’d trained on when a clear cut winner of Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury, and probably didn’t get home in French 1,000 Guineas; Naturally of interest here but all 15 is no help at all and dependent on a clear run.

Cochamba: Showed up well on every two year old start last season, running a close second in the Rockfel and Prestige Stakes; Good run at Newbury but safely held by Rimth.

Khor Sheed: Finally off the mark for the season with easy win in Warwick listed event but that far weaker contest and back up in class here; Also has to contend with wide draw in 14, which is no help.

Maqaasid: Showed immense promise on debut and realized that very quickly when winning Queen Mary Stakes in course record time, but failed to build on that as 2; Trained on in no uncertain terms this season, bettering her trial third when filling same position in 1,000 Guineas (could have gotten better trip); Never in contention thanks to draw in French Guineas and Falmouth was always going to be hard with no pace, so of interest here.

Memory: If you take her Albany and Cherry Hinton Stakes wins, then surely one of the classiest horses in the field; Not matched that form since but more worrying twice refused at Newmarket this season; If back to her best then can win this but no way of telling; Last chance for connections.

Rhythm Of Light: Has been much improved this season when bumping into potential pattern performer and then landed Sandringham handicap at Royal Ascot; Can go well although stall 17 demands a lot.

Sharberry: Improved on 2yo form when second to Rimth at Newbury but no answers when winner Swept past and French Guineas fifth better form; That said, ran a poor race last time and others preferred.

VERDICT: A cracking renewal butt one that’s very hard to rate so the advice is to tread carefully and the draw is the first port of call. As well having some of the strongest form claims, CHACHAMAIDEE has a plum draw and that seals the vote, with talented 3yos Maqaasid, Memory, & Perfect Tribute having something to prove, while the speedy Rimth and Khor Sheed have to deal with wide draws.