Unbeaten Galatee facing tough test
Galatee will face the biggest test by far of her short career when she puts her unbeaten record on the line in the Vodafone Oaks at Epsom on Friday.
The Jim Bolger-trained filly did not make her racecourse debut until April this year when she trotted up in a 10-furlong maiden race at Naas.
She has won her two subsequent starts in good style and was particularly impressive in the Group Three Blue Wind Stakes at Naas last time when she easily disposed of a decent field.
Afterwards the Irish Oaks was nominated as her next target but she has progressed well recently and connections took the decision to add her to the Epsom line-up at a cost of £20,000.
“It looks like a nice opportunity for her. We can have two bites at the Oaks chery now,” said Bolger, who won the Oaks in 1991 with Jet Ski Lady.
“She didn’t show very much as a two-year-old so we didn’t have her entered but she’s been making up for it since she ran.
“You never know about Epsom until you try it but we think she’ll handle it.
“She’s a different sort to Jet Ski Lady. Jet Ski lady was a reasonably precocious two-year-old, who managed to win a couple of times in her first year, so we knew what we were dealing with from earlier in her career while this one is more of a late developer.
“We think she is pretty talented and this will be her big test. I’m not sure that it’s all that open but it will be competitive.”
Connections of Time On rate Galatee as a big danger.
Will Edmeades, racing adviser to owner Robert Barnett, said: “We could have done without Galatee being supplemented, she could be a bit of a dark horse. I watched her win last time and I was pretty impressed.”
The John Dunlop-trained Time On was also the subject of a supplementary entry following an impressive all-the-way victory under Frankie Dettori in the Cheshire Oaks.
She has a lot to live up to as her great grandam was Time Charter, who won the Oaks in 1982.
“She worked this morning and all is well as far as I know, so it’s all systems go,” Edmeades continued.
“I went down on Saturday to see her and she looked great.
“She’s an improving filly and there doesn’t appear to be a standout in the race.
“She’s a Sadler’s Wells on Darshaan from a great family, the great grandmother won the race so it’s worth having a shot.
“I don’t think we’ll have any concerns over going or stamina and I think she’ll act round Epsom because she’s quite a handy filly and she acted round Chester and she acted round Folkestone.
“And with Frankie Dettori being available it is another plus – he must be a bit hungry.
“She doesn’t have to make the running so we’ll leave tactics to the jockey.”
And assessing Time On’s chances, Edmeades added: “It’s difficult to say because there are no tie-ups in the form. There looks to be half a dozen who are capable of winning it and I think she’s got a great shot of being in the first four.”
Rae Guest is hoping for a bold show from Guilia, who ran with a good deal of promise on her reappearance to be beaten just a head by the highly-regarded Scottish Stage at Newbury earlier this month.
“Scottish Stage was supposed to be well-fancied and backed heavily during the week so it was a very encouraging run,” Guest told At The Races.
“She’s only run on flat tracks and nobody knows whether she’ll handle Epsom. She is a long-striding filly but we’ll just have to wait and see.
“The more it dries out the better and there’s only one Oaks so you never know. It will be a big day.”
Vodafone Oaks betting:
Ladbrokes: 3-1 Alexandrova, 4-1 Galatee, 9-2 Short Skirt, 5-1 Speciosa, 6-1 Time On, 7-1 Riyalma, 10-1 Scottish Stage, 12-1 Guilia, 33-1 Queen Cleopatra, 40-1 Kushnarenkovo, 50-1 bar.
Coral: 100-30 Alexandrova, 4-1 Short Skirt, 9-2 Galatee, 5-1 Riyalma, 6-1 Speciosa, 7-1 Time On, 8-1 Scottish Stage, 14-1 Guilia, 16-1 Queen Cleopatra, 33-1 Rising Cross, Souvenance, 40-1 Kushnarenkovo, 50-1 bar.
William Hill: 3-1 Alexandrova, 4-1 Short Skirt, 9-2 Galatee, 11-2 Riyalma, Speciosa, 7-1 Scottish Stage, 8-1 Time On, 16-1 Guilia, 33-1 Queen Cleopatra, 50-1 bar.
