Found Leads Oaks Entries

Last year’s G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) headlines 59 entries for the G1 Epsom Oaks June 5. The Tabor, Smith and Magnier colorbearer is the 4-1 favorite with Coral, and her trainer, Aidan O’Brien, has 11 total entries that also include G1 Fillies’ Mile winner Together Forever (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (14-1); Group 3 winner Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Ire}) (16-1) and flashy maiden winner Words (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) (16-1). O’Brien seeks his fifth Oaks score. 

Current second-choice at 12-1 is Doncaster maiden winner Star of Seville (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}), trained by John Gosden for Lady Bamford. Gosden also conditions the 14-1 co-third choice Jellicle Ball (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) for Lord Lloyd-Webber, and Wednesday’s G3 Nell Gwyn S. sixth Lady Correspondent (War Front) for Khalid Abdullah. Al Naamah (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the 5 million-guineas full-sister to 2012 Oaks winner Was (Ire), is 16-1. 

Entries for the Oaks closed six weeks later than usual this year, resulting in an expected drop in entries. 

“The later closing date meant that the number of entries was bound to drop,” said Andrew Cooper, head of racing and clerk of the course at Epsom Downs. “We had 75 entries last year and I was hoping for between 50 and 60 this time so to get 59 is very pleasing. What we have received is a more realistic list of potential Investec Oaks runners and includes five fillies from France. Part of the reason for the later closing date was to encourage more French entries and we hope this results in a French runner or two on June 5.”