Investec Oaks 2013

4.00 Epsom

Investec Oaks (Fillies' Group 1) (Class 1)  (3YO only)

Winner £241,726

Advice: 1 pt win Moth (7/2 general), 1 pt each/way Banoffee (8/1 general)

Banofee: Literally only a handful of runs but instant promise when defying price of 28/1 to win on debut at Newbury (10f, good to soft), charging late from off the pace, and repeated the trick when landing Cheshire Oaks, ultimately well on top over reopposing Gertrude Verse after taking her time to get organised coming into the straight; Far more needed than that here but she must improve, sure to enjoy this stiffer finish, hopefully more streetwise and well run race to bring out the best in her yet; Must be respected.

Gerturde Versed: Half-sister to 2010 fourth; Broke her maiden at the 4^th attempt, greatly improved for step up in trip when coming well clear as market expected her to in Kempton maiden (1m3f), and second to Banofee when making early bid for home in Chesire Oaks; Might have struck for home too soon but second best then and don’t expect form reversal with significantly less exposed rivals.

Liber Natuicus: Unbeaten in two runs, having impressed when landing her maiden, not looking like a winner for a long part of the way before taking to her task and winning with a lot in hand; Nowhere near as impressive when returning in Musidora Stakes when hard worked to beat runner up who had won handicap off 77 time before; Should be remembered that circumstances played their part in her being less impressive than she should have been (slow gallop for one) and stiff 1m4f going to see different horse, but worry that such a big type will struggle to hold tactical position around this course; Has big potential.

Madame Defarge: From family of Oaks and St Leger winner User Friendly (dam and unraced half sister) Won Yarmouth maiden in good style (1m, heavy) to open career, and decent return when just under 3l third of eight to Talent in Pretty Polly Stakes; Will do better in time (was green, even when held up last, also didn’t like dip) but whether today’s her day different matter; Trainer also has The Lark.

Miss You Too: Was third in Group 1 in France but beaten 10 lengths and same beating at hands of favourite Secret Gesture latest; One of few who can be safely written off.

Moth: Disappointing last season considering what connections throught of her, although she may not have liked the ground when beaten favourite at Navan (1m) and Naas (6f); Deeply impressive at the Curragh on her seasonal comeback when scything through field with no fuss there, and stepped up a level when running on third in the 1,000 Guineas, a result she could have bettered had she not suffered a blocked passage; Looked for all the world as if she’d have relished an extra trip there and while she did seem a little unbalanced in the dip, that not the main result behind her defeat; That race has since been boosted by success of Just the Judge in Ireland (albeit over a mile) and much the best chance on form, so must go close.

Roz: Never able to land a blow when 10^th in 1,000 Guineas, far below the form she saw her come a clear third when second in Fillies Mile after Listed win; Looks as if she’s up against it on that form.

Say: Improved for every one of her three runs in Ireland (all soft ground maidens), finding a mile too short on debut before once again just running out of time when second on seasonal debut at Leopardstown; Serious drop in class and upping two furlongs did the trick at Cork when she won by no less than 9 lengths latest, but today’s test a world apart; That said, may still improve and one to relish every yard of the trip, so not discounted even if second string.

Secret Gesture: Appealed as middle distance type when drawing away to win Newbury maiden on testing ground last October but clearly progressed no end through the winter to see her sent off just evens for her Oaks trial at Lingfield, where she routed Miss You Too by 10 lengths (could have been more if she wanted); Lot to like about that win, not least the fact that course will be no worry to her and fact she should still improve plenty for the run; Worth her chance here and worthy favourite on visual impressions but runner up rated just 93 and this a world apart; Will take the beating.

Talent: Bred to enjoy 1m4f (by New Approach out of winner over 1m4f) and shaped as if she’d improve for it when landing listed event at Newmarket last month, a convincing winner considering that she raced so freely early on; Must settle better if she wants to play part today but talented second string to Secret Gesture and mustn’t be ignored.

The Lark: Yet another who is crying out for a trip, her dam being a 1m6f Listed winner and a half sister to 2009 winner Sariska; Only third in Newbury Listed event on her seasonal reappearance but all her best work late and today’s test will be entirely different matter.

VERDICT: As ever, potential is the buzzword fr this Oaks, but MOTH’S 1,000 Guineas third sets a high standard for the others to surpass and she has just as much potential to improve for this trip as the other trial winners, most of whom have beaten rivals that aren’t much higher than the 90’s. If handling the track and a relatively poor draw in 2 (which has just 2 wins if combined with one over this trip since 2000), she should take the beating. Trial winners Secret Gesture and Liber Nauticus must improve but are better than the bare form they’ve been able to show so far, but the same applies to BANOFEE, who looked for all the world as if she’d relish the stiff finish here when overcoming trouble in running to win the Cheshire Oaks, and if able to race closer to the pace, should be well upto making a bold bid. Of the outsiders, Talent makes most appeal, with second string Say having a lot to prove for all that she was impressive last time.