O’Brien relies on Moth and Say in Oaks
“Snow Queen is going for the Irish Guineas,” said O’Brien.
“The other two (Moth and Say) haven’t done a lot of work, they don’t need it, but are both in good shape and are going for the Oaks.”
Ralph Beckett has firmed up the riding arrangements for his Oaks contenders, with Jim Crowley sticking with Secret Gesture and Richard Hughes coming in for the mount on Talent.
Secret Gesture is favourite for the fillies’ Classic after treating her rivals with disdain in the Lingfield Oaks Trial. She has been ridden by Crowley in all three of her races.
Talent lived up to her name by winning the Pretty Polly Stakes on Guineas weekend at Newmarket.
“Jim will ride Secret Gesture and he will come and sit on her in the morning. Richard Hughes will come in and have a sit on Talent, and he’ll ride her as well,” said Beckett, who won the Oaks with Look Here in 2008.
Hughie Morrison’s unbeaten filly Banoffee will be supplemented for the Classic.
The daughter of Hurricane Run was unraced as a juvenile but made a pleasing introduction at Newbury in April, winning a maiden which subsequent Oaks scorers Eswarah and Dancing Rain used as a springboard to success.
Stepped up in class for the Cheshire Oaks at Chester, she showed a telling turn of foot in the straight to cut down her opponents and win going away under Kieren Fallon. The six-times champion jockey is keen to maintain the partnership as Banoffee attempts to emulate Sir Henry Cecil’s Light Shift, who was the last filly to take the Chester event before going on the Epsom glory.
Michael Bell, who won the race with Sariska, could run The Lark in the same silks, along with Madame Defarge.
