Investec Oaks: Once in a blue moon double still on the cards
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John Gosden’s Star Of Seville just about managed to hold off Aidan O’Brien’s Together Forever in York’s Musidora Stakes, staying ahead by a shoulder on the line to land 4/6 favourite odds, but the Ballydoyle runner emerged stronger in the market for next month’s Investec Oaks.
The slender margin of victory will have taken the shine off the victory for Gosden, with Star Of Seville giving away 4lbs to the runner up. She’s now 9/1 with Ladbrokes for Epsom’s 1m4f fillies bonanza, but Together Forever, who made up a number of lengths over the last furlong at York, gets a 7/1 quote.
O’Brien has three of the first four in the market, with Diamondsandrubies and Found both available at 6/1, but fellow Tipperary-based handler David Wachman looks to be holding all the aces with 1,000 Guineas winner and 3/1 jolly Legatissimo, who could become the first horse to complete the double since Kazzia in 2002.
The market clearly sees the race between these five at present, with Gosden’s Jazzi Top a best-priced 12/1 with Ladbrokes and 14/1 bar.
Found can’t be backed with any confidence after missing the 1,000 Guineas having been ante-post favourite for much of the winter, before going down to 25/1 shot Iveagh Gardens at the Curragh, admittedly on soft ground she didn’t like.
Diamondsandrubies powered home to win the Cheshire Oaks by 6l at Chester earlier this month, but the Fastnet Rock filly arguably didn’t have a lot to beat; she won at 5/4 while the next best in the market went off at 6/1, with 20/1 outsider Entertainment coming home second.
Together Forever is of interest after only just failing to land a four-timer in the Musidora, but Legatissimo has already gotten the better of her once, by more than 5l in Galway last summer, on good ground similar to what’s likely to come up at Epsom, albeit over half the Oaks distance.
Wachman has already talked up his latest stablestar ahead of the big day, suggesting she’s more than just a miler. At present, Legatissimo undoubtedly sets the standard at 3/1.
We told you to keep an eye out for a price on 1,000 Guineas fourth Malabar following the Newmarket spectacle. Mick Channon’s runner is now 20/1 for the Oaks and worth an each-way nibble after staying on stoutly last time out, when she made up two places in the last furlong.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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