French Fillies Lead Way for Juddmonte Oaks
17/04/08

Zarkava, trained at Chantilly by Alain de Royer-Dupre, cemented her position at the head of the market for the Juddmonte Oaks with an impressive victory in the Group Two Prix de La Grotte over a mile at Longchamp on April 13.

Another French-trained filly, Gagnoa, also enhanced her Epsom claims for Friday, June 6, with a good success in the extended 10-furlong Group Three Prix Penelope at Saint-Cloud on April 11. The daughter of Sadler’s Wells could bid to give France’s champion trainer Andre Fabre his second Oaks victory following Intrepidity, who triumphed in 1993.

Kitty Matcham (Johnny Murtagh nearside) just holding on to win the Group Two Rockfel Stakes (Newmarket 20-10-07)
© racing-images.co.uk

Marjalina got her season under way with a game victory over fellow Juddmonte Oaks entry Savethisdanceforme in the Group Three Park Express Stakes over a mile at the Curragh on March 30, while Sugar Mint will now be aimed at either the Group Three Musidora Stakes at York or the Cheshire Oaks at Chester by trainer Barry Hills following a good victory in a Bath maiden recently.

Several Juddmonte Oaks entries will have their first start of the season in the stanjamesuk.com 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 4, including James Fanshawe’s Group Two May Hill Stakes winner Spacious, and the Aidan O’Brien-trained Kitty Matcham, who took the Group Two Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket in October.