Javis nominates track as Eswarah worry
Eswarah is reported to be in top form ahead of her attempt to emulate her dam Midway Lady in tomorrow’s Vodafone Oaks at Epsom.
Midway Lady won the fillies’ Classic for Ben Hanbury back in 1986 and hopes are high in Michael Jarvis’s yard that Eswarah can repeat the feat.
The filly is a general 2-1 shot for the race after landing a Newbury maiden in fine style on her racecourse debut before going on to claim the Swettenham Stud Fillies’ Trial Stakes at the same track last month.
Jarvis is pleased with the way preparations have gone and although the 12-furlong trip holds no fears for him, he is keen to see how Eswarah handles the unique Epsom track.
“Everything has gone to plan and she goes there fit and well,” he said.
“I think the trip is a question for them all at this point but I would have no problems about it on her breeding – the only real question is the track.
“We don’t know how she will handle it, but she is a very athletic, well-made filly who is not over-big and has a good action, so we have to be hopeful.”
Eswarah has won on both quick and easy surfaces and Jarvis will be satisfied if Epsom can provide their predicted good ground.
He added: “I haven’t been to walk the track myself but several people have and the general feeling seems to be that it is genuine good ground with maybe a few quicker patches, so that will be fine for us.”
Aidan O’Brien has a team of three in the big race headed by 1000 Guineas winner Virginia Waters, the mount of Kieren Fallon.
Mick Kinane will be on second-string Silk And Scarlet, and he believes the French 1000 Guineas fourth has sound claims.
The Sadler’s Wells filly was hampered early in the straight at Longchamp and Kinane believes she will improve for the step up in trip.
He told At The Races: “She maybe could have been second-best in the French Guineas and is a filly crying out to go a mile and a half.
“There are a lot of fillies moving up into unknown territory and if you get a filly who improved for a mile and a half you are in with a shout.”
Godolphin also hope Fen Shui will appreciate the rise to 12 furlongs after she ran 10th in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Fen Shui, a daughter of Timber Country, was supplemented for the race at a cost of £20,000 last Saturday and trainer Saeed Bin Suroor believes she deserves to take her chance.
He said: “She is working well. It is a very tough race for her and the first time over a mile and a half, but we think we need to give her a fair chance in the Oaks. She is in good form.”
Epsom are set to resume selective watering at the track today after just one millimetre of rain yesterday.
Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said: “There is a predominately dry forecast, with only a slight prospect of the odd shower, so the plan is to put five millimetres of water on the hill today.
“I am happy that the ground at present is nice and safe with no jar but, while I am keeping it good for the time being, it may ultimately ride faster in places.”
