It’s day one of the two-day Epsom Derby Meeting this Friday (4th June 2021). The Cazoo Oaks is the third English Classic of the season and the highlight on the day’s action, but there is also a top supporting card that includes the Group One Coronation Cup.
Like all big race days here at RACING AHEAD we are on-hand with all the key stats for all the LIVE ITV races.
Epsom Horse Racing Trends
Friday 4th June 2021
2.00 – Cazoo WOODCOTE EBF STAKES (Conditions Race) Cl2 (2yo) 6f ITV
18/18 – Ran within the last 4 weeks
17/18 – Had won over either 5 or 6f before
16/18 – Finished 1st or 2nd last time out
15/18 – Returned 7/1 or shorter in the betting
15/18 – Single-figured stalls that filled the first three home
14/18 – Had 2 or more previous runs
14/18 – Winners from stall 5 or lower
12/18 – Yet to win over 6f
9/18 – Winning favourites (2 joint)
9/18 – Won their previous race
5/18 – Trained by Mark Johnston (2002, 2003, 2011, 2015 & 2017)
3/18 – Trained by the Richard Hannon yard
2/18 – Trained by Mick Channon
2/18 – Ridden by Silvestre De Sousa
10 of the last 12 winners were foaled in Feb (3) or March (7)
RACING AHEAD VERDICT: Drawn in single-figures here is a plus, so Maybury, from the 10 stall, is overlooked. While 14 of the last 18 winners came from stalls 5 or lower – good news for DAIRERIN, OSCULA, SIENNA BONNIE, FLAMING RIB and RAGING. Of those drawn higher, the Hollie Doyle-ridden Dusky Prince was a nice winner on debut at Brighton and will be popular, while the Richard Hannon yard have a good record – with that in mind, their Zoltan Star is another to respect. However, the Hannon camp also have another runner – RAGING – in the race and with three career runs under his belt is one of the most experienced in the field. Draw 5 looks ideal and was a nice winner at Haydock last time out, albeit on softer ground – this one gets the nod from the Hannon pair. The other pick is the Tom Dascombe-trained FLAMING RIB. William Buick rides this 2 year-old, who caught the eye when winning by almost 4 lengths at Nottingham last month. Draw 4 is perfect too and having made all that last day we can expect another bold showing from the front here.
2.35 – Coral ‘Beaten By A Length’ Free Bet Mile (Handicap) (CLASS 2) (4yo+ 0-105) 1m 114y
15/17 – Had raced within the last 6 weeks
15/17 – Had won over at least a mile before
13/17 – Aged 4 or 5 years-old
12/17 – Had won between 2-5 times before
12/17 – Drawn in stall 9 or lower
11/17 – Came from the top 3 in the betting
11/17 – Placed last time out
11/17 – Placed favourites
10/17 – Irish bred
8/17 – Carried 9-1 or more
7/17 – Raced at the track before
5/17 – Won last time out
4/17 – Raced at Sandown last time out
3/17 – Winning favourites
2/17 – Trained by Andrew Balding
2/17 – Trained by Mark Johnston
9 of the last 12 winners returned 15/2 or shorter in the betting
RACING AHEAD VERDICT: Three of the last seven winners of this race have come from draw 7 – therefore, the Owen Burrows runner Muraad has this stat on his side, but his last two runs have been below average and has a bit to prove. The Mark Johnston yard have a good record in the race, so of those at bigger prices their OVERWRITE (e/w) might be worth a small interest. Yes, recent runs have been poor, but the better ground here will suit and in this better race he gets in with just 8st 8lbs to carry. Corazon Espinado is the only course and distance winner in the field, who ran well last time at Lingfield (2nd), so can’t be discounted either. Mostawaa and Storting are others to respect, but the call is the William Haggas-trained IRISH ADMIRAL. This 4 year-old has only had four career runs, therefore, will have a fair bit of improvement to come. He’s still already shown a good level of form though – winning twice – and certainly wasn’t disgraced when third in a similar race at York last time out over a slightly longer trip.
3.10 – Coral CORONATION CUP (Group 1) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m4f ITV
19/19 – Had previously won a Group 1 or 2 race
18/19 – Had won over 1m4f before
18/19 – Aged 6 or younger
17/19 – Finished in the top three last time out
16/19 – Aged either 4 or 5 years-old
13/19 – Raced within the last 5 weeks
12/19 – Favourites placed
11/19 – Ran at either Chester, York, Newmarket or the Curragh last time out
10/19 – Horses from stall 3 that were placed (four won)
8/19 – Won by trainer Aidan O’Brien (2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2017)
8/19 – Won their last race
8/19 – Winning favourites
6/19 – Had run at Epsom before
3/19 – Ridden by Ryan Moore (2009, 2011 & 2017)
1/19 – Winners from stall 1
Note: The 2020 renewal was run at Newmarket
RACING AHEAD VERDICT: Just the seven runners, but a decent renewal of this Group One. It’s a prize top Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien loves to target – he’s won the race eight times in the last 19 years. He’s got leading chances again this year with the classy Japan and Mogul, who are rated 120 and 119. 2019 Epsom Derby third, Japan, got back to winning ways last time out at Chester in the G3 Ormonde Stakes, but stepping back up to Group One level means he’s got more on his plate here – he can go well, but might just fall short. Mogul was last seen running third in the G1 Prix Ganay in France – form that would see him run well here and having run sixth in the Epsom Derby last season has at least tasted the tricky ups and downs, plus the camber hill of Epsom’s finish – shouldn’t be far away. Pyledriver was only eleventh in the 2020 Derby and despite being top-class his three runs at G1 level now have all been defeats. So that leaves us with the John Gosden runner – AL AASY. Yes, this 4 year-old is stepping up to this top level for the first time, but he’s been more than impressive in winning Group Threes at Newbury this season. He’s won 4 of his seven starts now and based on what we’ve seen this season has come back an improved horse – there should be more to come too! Of the rest, the one at bigger prices, that can outrun her odds, is the only course winner in the field – ALPINISTA(e/w). Being a filly, she gets a handy 3lbs allowance off the rest and that would bring her rating of 113 a lot closer to the main players – she only needs to find 3lbs-4lbs of improvement.
3.45 – Cazoo Handicap (CLASS 2) (4yo+) 1m2f
16/17 – Had won over at least 1m2f or further before
14/17 – Had raced within the last 5 weeks
14/17 – Aged 4 or 5 years-old
13/17 – Had won at least 3 times before
13/17 – Came from stall 9 or lower
12/17 – Returned 8/1 or shorter in the betting
11/17 – Rated between 86-98
11/17 – Carried 9-0 or less in weight
11/17 – Irish bred
11/17 – Placed favourites
10/17 – Came from the top three in the betting
10/17 – Winning distance – 1 length or shorter
7/17 – Had raced at the track before
6/17 – Won last time out
5/17 – Winning favourites
3/17 – Raced at Goodwood last time out
Sky Defender (22/1) won this race in 2020
RACING AHEAD VERDICT: Some decent trends to go on here, including 14 of the last 17 winners aged 4 or 5 years-old. That’s a positive for seven of the 11 runners – BLUE CAP, DREAM WITH ME, HMS PRESIDENT, SKY DEFENDER, STRAIT OF HORMUZ, KALEIDOSCOPIC and WATER’S EDGE. Of that bunch though, it’s the two Mark Johnston runners – SKY DEFENDER and DREAM WITH ME – that get the call. The former actually won this race 12 months ago so we know he likes the track and this time of year. Okay, he’s rated 5lbs higher this time, but also ran well here at the track two starts ago (2nd) off this mark. He was 1 ¼ lengths behind another runner here – Victory Chime – that day but is 4lbs better off at the weights this time. Dream With Me will be popular too, having won his last two and three of his last four. Up another 7lbs in the handicap here makes life harder – however, he’s been winning with plenty in-hand to suggest he’s worth sticking with in his current form. Blue Cap, HMS President and former course winner, Data Protection, are three others that can give the selections most to think about.
4.30 – Cazoo Oaks (Group 1) (Fillies) (CLASS 1) (3yo) 1m4f
19/19 – Ran within the last 5 weeks
16/19 – Horses from stall 1 that were unplaced
16/19 – Finished 1st or 2nd last time out
12/19 – Won over at least 1m2f previously
12/19 – Won from stall 5 or higher
12/19 – Favourites that were placed
11/19 – Won last time out
6/19 – Won by the favourite (1 joint)
6/19 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien
6/19 – Irish-trained winners
5/19 – Returned a double-figure price
5/19 – Ran in the English 1,000 Guineas
3/19 – Trained by John Gosden
3/19 – Ridden by Ryan Moore
2/19 – Trained by Ralph Beckett
1/19 – Had run over 1m4f before
0/19 – Had run at the course before
7 of the last 14 favourites were unplaced
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has won the race 8 times
Trainer John Gosden has won 3 of the last 7 runnings.
The average winning SP in the last 19 runnings is 11/1
Love (2020), Kazzia (2002) and Minding (2016) were the last horses to win both the 1,000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks
The horse from stall 2 has been placed in 7 of the last 19 runnings
RACING AHEAD VERDICT: The feature race on the opening day at Epsom, with the third of the English Classics this season – the Group One Epsom Oaks. 1000 Guineas runner-up Saffon Beach has done well this season – however, this step up to 1m4f is a huge unknown for this Jane Chapple-Hyam runner and breeding suggests it will be ‘touch and go’ if she’s able to last home. It’s a race the powerful Aidan O’Brien yard have dominated in recent times, and they are mob-handed to go well again this time with the likely favourite and second favourite – SANTA BARBARA and Snowfall. The last-named was a top winner of the Musidora Stakes at York last month and with that race a decent trial for the Oaks her chance is there for all to see. That was her first try upped in trip and it was clearly what she needed – there could be more to come now stepping up again here. That said, it’s O’Brien’s other main runner – SANTA BARBARA – that looks the more progressive. This well-bred filly is out of former Derby winner – Camelot – so this step up from 1m to 1m4f should be right up her street. She was last seen running fourth in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and with that only her second career run is still learning on the job. She’ll find things happening a bit slower over this longer trip. Plus, having shown a few signs of greenness and hanging left in her last race this might not be too big an issue on Epsom’s left-handed course. Of the rest, the Roger Varian pair of Teona and Zeyaadah will provide some strong opposition to the O’Brien pair and have to be considered, as does DUBAI FOUNTAIN (e/w), who actually beat Zeyaadah by a length last time out (getting 3lbs) but is double the price. Finally, it’s worth pointing out that Aidan O’Brien also have Divinely, Willow and La Jaconde in the race and has not been a stranger to landing this prize with a bigger-priced runner over the years.
