Legatissimo bidding for Classic history in the Investec Oaks
KAZZIA was the last filly to complete the 1,000 Guineas/Oaks double back in 2002 and the first since 1990. However, at Breakfast with the Stars, David Wachman gave a bullish bulletin on Legatissimo, who won going away at Newmarket earlier this month and is generally 7/2 to follow up at Epsom on Friday week.
Wachman said he definitely felt a mile would be the shortest she’d ever run over as a three-year-old because of her pedigree. “She seems very well and I’m happy with her,” he said.
Coolmore might be lacking a brilliant middle-distance colt on the evidence so far, but apart from owning Legatissimo, Ballydoyle boast the aforementioned Found, Diamondsandrubies and Together Forever in their ranks as Aidan O’Brien goes for a fifth Investec Oaks.
Kevin Buckley was sweet on the chances of recent Chester Oaks winner Diamondsandrubies, who he said is a “very tough filly and very well-bred.”
Together Forever ran a great race in the Musidora and has a top-level win to her name from last season. Buckley couldn’t split the pair when pressed on their chances.
John Gosden will also run two promising horses in the Oaks, Star Of Seville and Jazzi Top, who both worked on the track.
Frankie Dettori said he had “10 days to figure out which one I’ll ride”, but Gosden quipped that he should try and get the spare ride on Sir Michael Stoute’s contender Crystal Zvezda, who really got his attention when romping to victory at Newbury recently.
With Ryan Moore unavailable, Stoute admitted he would be “jockey hunting” this week for the “very talented” daughter of Dubawi.
French handler Andre Fabre was delighted to see five million guinea filly Al Naamah get a taste of Epsom ahead of the race. She’s been “big and backward but has always had the potential of a Group One filly,” said the master trainer.
Fabre will also bid for an incredible seventh Investec Coronation Cup next week with Flintshire, runner-up 12 months ago, and he is hoping for good ground for his money-spinner.
Dermot Weld admitted it was unlikely that Free Eagle would run in the Coronation Cup as he had yet to recover fully from a setback that ruled him out of his intended reappearance at the Curragh last weekend.
But he said it is “full steam ahead” for Tapestry, always well-regarded by Ballydoyle, and who is an intended runner in the Coronation Cup.
Tickets for both the Friday and Saturday of the Investec Derby Festival are selling fast.
To book visit http://epsom.thejockeyclub.co.uk/events-tickets or call 0844 579 3004.