Kazzia heads Oaks field

EPSOM Oaks winner Kazzia heads a field of 11 fillies to stand their ground at the final 48-hour declaration stage for the Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks at York tomorrow.

The Godolphin heroine bids to retain her unbeaten record after victories this season in the Sagitta 1000 Guineas and Vodafone Oaks.

Victory on the Knavesmire could then see Kazzia tackle the Rothmans Royals St Leger next month as she attempts to become the first to complete the fillies’ Triple Crown since Oh So Sharp in 1985.

Leading the opposition will be Sir Michael Stoute’s Islington.

The daughter of Sadler’s Wells was eighth to Kazzia on the very testing ground at Epsom but bounced right back to form with an impressive success in the Vodafone Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Aidan O’Brien’s Quarter Moon and Starbourne, runner-up and fourth respectively to the Godolphin ace at Epsom, renew rivalry, as does Jeremy Noseda’s Mellow Park, herself sixth in the Classic.

Ribblesdale Stakes winner Irresistible Jewel represents the in-form Dermot Weld stable, while further foreign flavour is added in the shape of the Peter Schiergen-trained German raider Guadalupe.

The field is completed by John Gosden’s Sulk, Mark Johnston’s Love Everlasting and Michael Bell’s Zanzibar.