Weld keen on White bid

Dermot Weld has confirmed Chinese White on course for the Juddmonte Oaks after the Lady O’Reilly-owned filly worked following racing at Leopardstown on Wednesday evening.

The daughter of Dalakhani had been doubtful for the Classic on Friday week following her successful seasonal bow at Gowran earlier this month, but Weld has slowly warmed to the idea.

He gave his strongest indication yet that the filly could run last weekend and confirmed her a likely starter when appearing at Epsom’s Breakfast With The Stars this morning – a move which saw totesport trim her to 9-2 from 11-2.

Weld said: “She worked after Casual Conquest yesterday and I was very pleased with her. It is now pretty certain that she will run in the Oaks.

“She is a very good filly and quickened nicely in her work.

“There are some very good fillies in the Oaks this year but I think she is entitled to take her chance.”

Musidora winner Lush Lashes heads up the Oaks market at 7-4 with John Oxx’s twice-raced Katiyra a 9-2 chance.

Winner of a seven-furlong maiden at Leopardstown last summer, the Aga Khan-owned filly finished a staying-on second in a Irish 1000 Guineas trial on her only subsequent start – form which was franked by the winner Carribean Sunset taking third in the Classic itself.

“The filly is very well and has had a good uninterrupted preparation since her run three weeks ago,” said Oxx.

“She has had setbacks in the past and only had the one run last year, and could have done with more experience last year.

“She has not had enough racing, which is a concern, but she will run in the Oaks if everything remains fine with her and this race her been her target ever since she won her maiden.”

Sail is next in the betting at around 7-1, and like the three market principals she represents an Irish stable.

Her trainer Aidan O’Brien is planning to run the Cheshire Oaks winner along with several of her stablemates.

O’Brien said: “We hope to have four or five runners. We have a filly called Adored who won a Group race at Naas on her last start, and the second that day, Tiffany Diamond, is also a possible.

“Irish 1000 Guineas winner Halfway To Heaven will hopefully go to the French Oaks and Kitty Matcham is a possible. Moonstone who ran in the Musidora is a very possible, along with Sail and Soinlovewithyou.”

Moonstone was third in the Musidora and just ahead in the second spot was Peter Chapple-Hyam’s Cape Amber, who is totesport’s 8-1 fourth favourite.

Her trainer said: “Every day she gets a bit better and she is improving all of the time.

“She is still green but I think a mile and a half will suit.

“I could not be happier with her and I think she will run a really huge race.”

Michita was a late addition to the Oaks picture when storming home at Goodwood last week and is rated as a lively outsider by trainer John Gosden.

“She went and won the Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood in fine style,” he said.

“There are a couple of horses in the Oaks with very hot form and she enters the stage of legitimate outsiders with a chance. The plan is to run her.”