Aurore given Oaks go-ahead

John Dunlop has been given the approval of owner Benny Andersson to run Beatrice Aurore in the Investec Oaks.

Andersson, who was a member of Abba, has a most progressive filly on his hands.

She built on a Goodwood handicap victory at the beginning of the month by landing the Casco Height Of Fashion Stakes at the same course on Wednesday.

“She’s definitely going to run,” said Dunlop.

“I’ve spoken to the owner and he was very keen to have a runner, so we’re looking forward to it.”

Beatrice Aurore can still be backed at 20-1 with many major bookmakers for the Epsom Classic on June 3.

Jessica Harrington, meanwhile, is looking forward to a tilt at the Oaks with talented filly Siren’s Song.

A highly encouraging debut second at Leopardstown in March was followed up by Listed success at Naas.

“She’s got to do another bit of work this week but if that goes OK, she’ll go straight to the Oaks. That has always been the plan,” said Harrington.

“It was a good performance at Navan – she couldn’t have done any more.

“I know she’s going to go to Epsom fairly inexperienced, but I think she’s a good filly.

“She’s a fairly well-balanced filly, so she should handle Epsom all right.

“At Navan you run down a hill into a dip and there are a fair few ridges and she handled that fine.

“She came round a left-handed bend and also ran well at Leopardstown, which is left-handed.

“It looks a very open Oaks this year and she’ll take her chance.”

John Gosden’s Swettenham Stud Fillies’ Trial winner Izzi Top could also be Oaks-bound.

“I’ll leave her in the Oaks. She would appreciate a bit of rain, being by Pivotal, but she came out of her race really well,” said Gosden.

“She was squealing and bucking so much after her work, I almost worked her a second time.”