Vow more than capable of handing Haggas second Epsom Oaks win
Published:William Haggas tasted Epsom Oaks success last year with Dancing Rain and he appears to possess a strong chance of securing back-to-back successes with Vow.
Vow has been considerably impressive in winning on her opening two career starts and 6/1 may represent considerable each-way value come race day at Epsom.
The daughter of 2005 Epsom Derby winner Motivator began with a tough success at Newbury, where she was being shaken up a long way out, but made fast progress in the final furlong to win a shade cosily.
There are grounds to believe that she was not suited by the soft surface and the maiden has thrown up some big-race winners in the past, most notably 2005 Oaks winner Eswarah and Dancing Rain.
Vow has since been sent to the Oaks trial at Lingfield where she was ridden far closer to the front and again won well in the end, albeit that she looked remarkably green when striking the front down the home straight, wandering right across the track.
It is worth noting that all of the last eight Oaks winners have previously finished in the first two in a recognised Oaks Trial.
However, not since 1999 has the Lingfield winner followed up in the Oaks, although Look Here did win at Epsom in 2008 after taking second at Lingfield, while Midday occupied the same two positions a year later but in the reverse order.
Given that Vow has run so greenly thus far, there has to be doubts as to how well she will cope with the demands of Epsom, but she certainly deserves to take her chance based on the improvement that could well be in the pipeline.
Other factors that could be in Vow’s favour are that eight of the last ten Oaks winners have started at prices of 10/1 or shorter, her stamina is proven as she has already triumphed over 1m4f and that she has had at least two career starts.
