The Oaks (Friday 31 May) is the third classic of the English flat racing season and it is the highlight of the first day of Epsom Racecourse’s two-day Derby Festival Meeting.
It was established in 1779 and is run over a distance over 1 mile 4 furlongs and 6 yards. The field is limited to three-year-old fillies, with notable winners including Enable, Minding, Snow Fairy, Ouija Board, and User Friendly.
Oaks 2019 Trends
- The last 10 winners all had a prep run between 12 and 33 days prior to their success
- All 10 winners had between two and eight career starts
- Winners have been drawn as low as stall-2 and as high as stall-15
- Aidan O’Brien has trained four of the last seven winners
- John Gosden has trained two of the last five winners
- Only two of the last 10 favourites have won
- SP’s of the winners have ranged from 10/11 to 50/1
Oaks Main Contenders 2019
Mehdaayih
Broke her duck at the third time of asking as a two-year-old and has improved for middle-distances this year. Well-punted before winning the Cheshire Oaks last time, showing a serious turn-of-foot to extricate herself from a pocket on the rails to win by 4½ lengths. Looking to give trainer John Gosden a third winner in the race in six years.
Pink Dogwood
Bred to appreciate 12-furlongs and it was no surprise that she stepped up on her two-year-old form to win on her seasonal debut over 10-furlongs. The third that day has since won a Group 3 and she could easily improve enough to give Aidan O’Brien a fifth winner of The Oaks in eight years.
Maqsad
Looked really impressive last time when outclassing inferior fillies over 10-furlongs, and the second horse was beaten less far next time out in a decent race. There’s no reason why she won’t be suited by the longer distance of this race and she’s a player for trainer William Haggas who won the 2011 Oaks with Dancing Rain. However, she was well-beaten by Mehdaayih as a two-year-old.
Annapurna
Another filly trained by John Gosden who, like Mehdaayih, is also sired by Frankel. She won the Lingfield Oaks Trial by an impressive six-lengths and is another player.
Manuela De Vega
Finished second to Mehdaayih in the Cheshire Oaks but was only half-a-point longer in the market that day. Her dual Oaks-winning trainer Ralph Beckett also stated that she had only just come to hand and he thought she would improve enormously for that run. Could be the each-way value.
Oaks 2019 Horse Racing Summary & Betting Tip
Trainer John Gosden looks to have two live chances with Mehdaayih and Annapurna who won important trials. Meanwhile, the leading Aidan O’Brien hope out of his six entries looks to be Pink Dogwood, though it’s worth remembering that three of his last four Oaks winners have been returned at 7/1, 20/1, and 50/1.
Indeed, as short-priced horses don’t have a great record in the race, an each-way bet on Manuel De Vega could be the value-bet. Trainer Ralph Beckett has won the Oaks with 20/1 and 33/1 chances in the last 11 years and she could have improved greatly from her last run, having not been fully fit at Chester.
Oaks 2019 Tip: Manuel De Vega (Each-Way)